Nigerian military surrounds kidnappers of French family

 
Nigerian security forces surrounded the kidnappers of a French family in northeast Borno state on Thursday and are trying to free the hostages, a military source said.   

Nigeria's military located the hostages and kidnappers between Dikwa and Ngala in the far northeast, the military source in Borno said, asking not to be named.   

Dikwa is less than 80 km (50 miles) from the border with Cameroon where the three adults and four children were taken hostage on Tuesday.

Earlier on Thursday, France's foreign ministry denied that seven French hostages captured in Cameroon had been released, saying media reports earlier in the day were unfounded.
   
"After checking with our embassies, this information appears to be unfounded. The governments of the countries involved, mainly Nigeria and Cameroon, have also denied it," said Didier Le Bret, spokesman for the ministry's crisis unit.
 
Seven French hostages kidnapped in Cameroon have been found alive in a house in northern Nigeria and are with Nigerian authorities, French television said early Thursday.    

The hostages, four children and three adults, were captured by Islamist militants this week while on a tourist excursion to the Waza national park near the Nigerian border with Cameroon.    


REUTERS