An official statement from the French foreign Ministry has urged its citizens to leave northern Cameroon as quickly as possible after seven of its nationals were abducted on the border with Nigeria in the north.

French President Francois Hollande said he suspected militant Islamists from neighboring Nigeria of being behind the abductions but no group has claim responsibility of the act.

Many believed that the French tourists including four children had probably been taken to northern Nigeria by the radical militants Boko Haram.

Analysts say at least eight French nationals are believed to be held by Islamist groups in Africa in various locations as a results of probably France recent military intervention in Africa.

The French foreign ministry said on its website citizens were “officially advised not to go to the far north of Cameroon (the shores of Lake Chad in the South Maroua), and the border with Nigeria, until further notice”.

President Hollande believed that gunmen from Nigeria’s Boko Haram group may have been behind the abduction of his nationals.

“If everything is confirmed, this signifies that the fight against terrorist groups is a necessity, I see the hand of Boko Haram in that part of Cameroon, and that is worrying enough for us to mobilize,” President Hollande said.

President Hollande has also promised that everything possible was being done to rescue the seven, all from the same family from the abductors.

They were returning from a visit to Waza National Park when they were attacked by men on motorcycles, local reporters in the area said.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said if Boko Haram is confirmed to be behind the abduction, it will call for intense measures to fight what he describes as terrorism.

“If everything is confirmed, this signifies that the fight against terrorist groups is a necessity,” said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, told the Associated Press news agency.

“There is a battle to be led by the international community against terrorist groups and narco-terrorists”, he added.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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