Lucien Jura, former presidential spokesman under the administrations of Michel Joseph Martelly and Jovenel Moise, was freed by his captors late this afternoon, Thursday March 21, 2024, Caribbean Television Network has learned.
The news of the release of the former news director of Radio Signal FM was confirmed by a source close to his family, contacted by the editorial staff of Caribbean Television Network, who however refrained from providing details on the conditions of the release.
“It’s confirmed: Our colleague Lucien JURA was able to regain his freedom, this Thursday, March 21, 2024, after spending around 72 hours in the hands of his captors”, wrote lawyer and journalist Peguy Jean on X, who had reported the news of the colleague’s abduction.
Senior journalist Lucien Jura was kidnapped on Tuesday afternoon in the Vivy-Mitchel district, when heavily armed bandits perforated a wall at the rear of his residence before abducting him, we have learned.
For several days, armed bandits from the Kraze Baryè gang, led by Caïd Vitelhomme Innocent, have been waging an offensive in the Vivy-Mitchel and Belleville neighborhoods.
Several houses were looted and set on fire. Cars were also set on fire in the area.
This situation has prompted many families to flee the area in search of safety from the gangs’ fury.
Between Monday March 18 and Wednesday March 20, 2024, more than twenty lifeless bodies were found in several streets of Pétion-Ville. Several armed attacks were orchestrated by heavily armed men in the neighborhoods of Laboule, Thomassin, Pernier, Dorco, Nerette, Delmas 95 and Bristou.
Several armed bandits, including the gang leader Makandal, were fatally wounded during an operation in the Bristou district of Pétion-Ville.
Three alleged bandits were fatally wounded and two vehicles confiscated during a police operation carried out on the morning of Wednesday March 20, 2024, at around 1 a.m., in Reinbold, on Route de Bourdon, in Port-au-Prince, announced the Haitian National Police (PNH).
In the late afternoon of this Thursday, March 21, 2024, Delmas 95 gang leader Ernst Julmé, alias Ti Grèg, recently escaped from the National Penitentiary on March 02, 2024, was fatally wounded during a clash this afternoon with PNH units in Delmas 66.
Tension was high in several neighborhoods of Delmas, Pétion-Ville and downtown Port-au-Prince late this Thursday afternoon. Armed bandits launched simultaneous attacks against the headquarters of the “Corps d’intervention et de maintien de l’ordre (Cimo)” in Delmas 2.
Sporadic gunfire was also heard in Champ de Mars, where the presidential palace is located. Several injuries were reported, according to eyewitness accounts.