PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The remaining hostages who were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti two months ago have been released, Haitian police spokesman Gary Desrosiers said Thursday.

What You Need To Know

  • The remaining hostages who were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti two months ago have been released, a Haitian police spokesman said Thursday

  • Seventeen members of Ohio-based Christian Aid Missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16 while walking home from an orphanage

  • The conditions and circumstances of their release remains unknown

  • Five of the missionaries have been freed in earlier releases

A convoy of at least a dozen vehicles, including U.S. Embassy SUVs and Haitian National Police, brought the missionaries to the Port-au-Prince airport late Thursday afternoon from the missionary group’s offices in Titanyen, north of the capital.

The 400 Mawozo gang kidnapped 17 members of the group from Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries on Oct. 16 while walking home from an orphanage. Five of the hostages had been freed in earlier releases. 

There were five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian. 

"We glorify God for answered prayer — the remaining twelve hostages are FREE! Join us in praising God that all 17 of our loved ones are now safe," Christian Aid Ministries wrote in a statement Thursday. "Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months. We hope to provide more information as we are able."

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman said in a statement Thursday their release is "a relief and welcome news."

“I commend the FBI, State Department and other federal partners for their efforts to help secure their release,” Portman said. The senator, who discussed the kidnapping with the FBI Director Christopher Wray and other officials, said he intends to press the Biden administration to come up with a solution to the common issue of kidnappings in Haiti. 

News of their release spread quickly in and around Berlin, Ohio, where Christian Aid Ministries is headquartered.

“It’s an answer to prayer,” said Ruth Miller, who was working at the front desk of the town’s Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center.

Berlin is in Holmes County, Ohio’s Amish heartland, and many Amish and Mennonites volunteer in Christian Aid Ministries and donate to it.

Wes Kaufman, who attends a church where some Christian Aid Ministries leaders also worship, said many congregations had heeded the mission group’s recent request to devote three days to fasting and praying over the situation.

“It’s amazing how God works,” Kaufman said as dined with family in nearby Walnut Creek at Der Dutchman, a restaurant featuring traditional Amish and Mennonite fare.

In Washington, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised the law enforcement work and Haitian officials who helped get the hostages freed.

“We welcomed reports that they are free and getting the care that they need after their ordeal,” she said.

The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang had threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands were met. Authorities had said the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasn’t immediately clear that included the children in the group.

It's not known whether officials paid the ransom or what other efforts led to their release.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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