The
Islamist militants believed to have abducted a French family of seven,
including four children, in Cameroon on Tuesday, have taken them into Nigeria,
Cameroon’s foreign ministry claimed.
Islamist militants believed to have abducted a French family of seven,
including four children, in Cameroon on Tuesday, have taken them into Nigeria,
Cameroon’s foreign ministry claimed.
The
abduction highlights the growing risk of attacks on French nationals and
interests in Africa since Paris sent forces into Mali last month to help oust
Islamist rebels occupying the country’s north.
abduction highlights the growing risk of attacks on French nationals and
interests in Africa since Paris sent forces into Mali last month to help oust
Islamist rebels occupying the country’s north.
“The
kidnappers have crossed the Nigerian border with their hostages,’’ said junior
minister Joseph Dion Ngute in a statement late on Tuesday.
kidnappers have crossed the Nigerian border with their hostages,’’ said junior
minister Joseph Dion Ngute in a statement late on Tuesday.
He
added that security in the Dabanga area, 10 km from the Nigerian border, had
been reinforced and “urgent measures’’ put in place to find the hostages.
added that security in the Dabanga area, 10 km from the Nigerian border, had
been reinforced and “urgent measures’’ put in place to find the hostages.
It
is the first case of foreigners being seized in the mostly Muslim north of
Cameroon, a former French colony.
is the first case of foreigners being seized in the mostly Muslim north of
Cameroon, a former French colony.
Speaking
on French television on Wednesday, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian
said all the evidence pointed to Nigerian Islamist group, Boko Haram, but there
did not appear to be a direct link with France’s intervention in Mali.
on French television on Wednesday, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian
said all the evidence pointed to Nigerian Islamist group, Boko Haram, but there
did not appear to be a direct link with France’s intervention in Mali.
“We
believe it’s the Boko Haram group that carried out the kidnapping, but we don’t
know for sure. Unfortunately, terror breeds terror,’’ Le Drian told France 2
television. “Now this group are taking children.’’
believe it’s the Boko Haram group that carried out the kidnapping, but we don’t
know for sure. Unfortunately, terror breeds terror,’’ Le Drian told France 2
television. “Now this group are taking children.’’
Boko
Haram is a major threat to stability in Nigeria, Africa’s top oil-producing
state. Western government’s worry they could link up with other Islamist groups
in the region.
Haram is a major threat to stability in Nigeria, Africa’s top oil-producing
state. Western government’s worry they could link up with other Islamist groups
in the region.
France
intervened in Mali last month after Islamist rebels seized control of the north
of the country and pushed south towards the capital Bamako.
intervened in Mali last month after Islamist rebels seized control of the north
of the country and pushed south towards the capital Bamako.
“It’s
these groups that are calling for the same fundamentalism, whether it’s in Mali
or in Somalia or in Nigeria. And it’s these groups that threaten our
security,’’ Le Drian said.
these groups that are calling for the same fundamentalism, whether it’s in Mali
or in Somalia or in Nigeria. And it’s these groups that threaten our
security,’’ Le Drian said.
French
President Francois Hollande said the kidnappings would not stop France from
pursuing its operation in Mali.
President Francois Hollande said the kidnappings would not stop France from
pursuing its operation in Mali.
Source:
Daily Times
Daily Times
