Cameroon says Chinese workers, wife of high-ranking official among 27 hostages freed in north

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Cameroon's government says 27 hostages presumed to have been kidnapped by Boko Haram, including 10 Chinese construction workers and the wife of a deputy prime minister, have been freed.

An official statement from the president's office read on state radio Saturday said the hostages were released early Saturday morning.

The Chinese road construction workers were kidnapped in May from their base in Waza, in northern Cameroon. The wife of deputy prime minister Amadou Ali was kidnapped in a July attack targeting his residence in the border town of Kolofata.

Boko Haram never claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, but there are concerns the Nigerian insurgents will expand operations in Cameroon as the government becomes increasingly involved in regional efforts to contain them.

Cameroon denies paying ransoms in kidnapping cases.