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Dec. 16 (UPI) -- The remaining U.S. hostages who were abducted by a gang in Haiti two months ago were released on Thursday, according to the Ohio-based Christian group for which they worked. The missionaries were part of the Christian Aid Ministries, which does charity work in Haiti, when they were abducted by 400 Mawozo -- a gang that controls a suburb near Port-au-Prince.
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A total of 17 missionaries, which included some children, were kidnapped. The gang had previously released five of them.
"We glorify God for answered prayer -- the remaining 12 hostages are free," the organization said in a message on their website. "Join us in praising God that all 17 of our loved ones are now safe. Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months. We hope to provide more information as we are able."
Most of the aid workers were Americans and one was Canadian.
Gary Desrosiers, a spokesman for the Haiti National Police, confirmed that the hostages were free, according to NBC News.
The gang had initially demanded a ransom of $1 million per hostage. It's not yet clear if any ransom money was paid to the kidnappers.
The group of missionaries were kidnapped as they drove through the Port-au-Prince suburb of Croix des Bouquets after visiting an orphanage.
