Police launch operations as kidnappings increase in Haiti

The Office for the Protection of the Citizen (OPC), has “expressed its indignation and its anger” as the murder of a 60-year-old deacon of the First Baptist Church of Port-au-Prince, who was shot in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent armed men from kidnapping his wife on Sunday.

“After the tragedy that occurred at the Baptist Church of the Réunion Street, considered a holy place and inviolable space, no place is protected. Churches, schools, universities, radio and TV stations, public and private offices, shops are exposed to the fury of armed bandits operating with impunity,” the OPC said in a statement.

Media reports said that Deacon Sylner Lafaille and his wife, Marie Marthe Laurent Lafaille, were about to enter the First Baptist Church of Port-au-Prince, near the National Palace, when they were attacked by heavily armed individuals.

He tried unsuccessfully to prevent his wife from being kidnapped, but the gunmen shot him several time and kidnapping his wife.

Inside the church, the attack and the gunfire caused widespread panic among the worshippers with reports of many fainting and others seeking to hide.

Deacon Lafaille was rushed to the General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The OPC said that it was urging “those who in fact hold the power to take stock of their bitter failure in terms of security and protection of the lives of people” in Haiti reiterating that no one is safe in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

Several countries, including the United States and Canada have issued travel advisories urging their citizens not to travel to the country as political instability, crime, especially kidnappings, have increased.

The Haitian National Police said it has lunched several operations aimed at curbing the number of kidnappings in the country and have arrested three gang members and shot and killed one other person over the past weekend.

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