As of December 2015, their whereabouts were still unknown and the identity of the kidnappers uncertain, although it was suspected that the Islamist Salafi rebel group Army of Islam was responsible.
Pada Desember 2015, keberadaan mereka tidak diketahui dan identitas para penculiknya tidak jelas, namun diyakini berasal dari kelompok pemberontak Islamis Salafi Tentara Islam.