Armed men kidnap members of a Cameroonian university football team

The entrance to the University of Buea in Cameroon's Southwest Region [Courtesy]

20 University of Buea male students were abducted by armed men in Cameroon’s Southwest region on Wednesday, March 21.

According to a report seen by Game Yetu on American news outlet CNN, Ngono Horace Manga, the university’s Vice-Chancellor confirmed armed men stormed the university’s football training ground, ordering the players to go with them.

"They were training for an upcoming competition early in the morning when the kidnappers took them away from the field," said Manga.

He went on to confirm the abductors contacted the university authorities to demand a ransom in order for the players to be freed. He, however, insisted he would not disclose the amount they wanted so as not to threaten negotiations.

The kidnapping happened at around 7:30 am according to the team’s head coach Nicolas Asongu.  

"I had a little delay on my way to the training ground at the university campus. I arrived around 9:30 a.m. to learn that unidentified gunmen had kidnapped the students,” narrated Asongu.

In addition, Asongu told CNN that he spoke to the abducted players on phone as the kidnappers told them to identify themselves.

Not a single person has claimed responsibility for the abduction.