The Bishops of Cameroon have demanded the immediate release of three kidnapped missionaries, two fidei donum priests, Fr. Gianantonio Allegri and Fr. Giampaolo Martha, and the Canadian Sister Gilberte Bussier of the Congregation of Our Lady of Montreal. In a statement sent to the Fides News Agency after the kidnapping of the three religious on April 4th, the Bishops’ Conference of Cameroon says: “This is the second kidnapping of apostolic workers in the Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo and the third time in the extreme north of the region.” In November 2013, Br. Georges Vandenbeusch, a French fidei donum priest, who had been kidnapped on New Year's Day in the same area, was released. Earlier, several French tourists, belonging to the same family, were kidnapped and then released two months later. The bishops “strongly condemn these unacceptable attacks on representatives of the Church by extremist groups and all acts of violence that pose a threat to the dignity of the human person. In communion with the Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo—the statement says in concluding—, we invite all Christian communities to organize prayers for the rapid and unconditional release of these kidnapped missionaries. In these circumstances, prayer remains the only effective weapon.”