A Haitian gang has released three more members of a group of 17 missionaries kidnapped in the country in October. The US-based Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement that it was “thankful to God that three more hostages were released last night”, saying those who were released are “safe and seem to be in good spirits.” The religious group didn’t reveal “the names of the people released, the circumstances of the release, or any other details.” The missionaries comprising 16 Americans and one Canadian were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo while traveling by car northeast of Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, after visiting the Maison La Providence de Dieu orphanage, on October 16.

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The hostages included an infant, a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old, as well as two young teenagers. All hail from Amish, Mennonite and other conservative Anabaptist communities across six US states and Ontario.

Two other hostages were released last month.

The gang had demanded $1 million per hostage, Haitian Justice and Interior Minister Liszt Quitel, was previously quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal.

The gang also threatened to kill the captives if its demands are not met, according to a video released by a gang member and reported by CNN. 400 Mawozo has been blamed for killings, kidnappings and extortion. In April, a man who claimed to be the gang’s leader told a radio station that it was responsible for abducting five priests, two nuns and three relatives of one of the priests that month. They were later released.

At least 328 kidnappings were reported to Haiti’s National Police in the first eight months of 2021, compared with a total of 234 for all of 2020, according to a report by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. UN officials have said the rise in gang violence has affected relief efforts in Haiti.