A French priest has been kidenapped in northern Cameroon, where he had refused to leave his parish despite safety warnings. Georges Vanderbusch, priest to the parish of Nguetchewe, was in Koza, near the Nigerian border in the region where a French family was kidnapped in February.

Vanderbusch was aware that French nationals were "strongly discouraged" from going to the area "because of the terrorist risk and the risk of kidnapping" but chose to stay with his flock, according to the French foreign affairs ministry.

"Efforts are being made to ding out the circumstances of his capture and the identity of his kidnappers," the ministry added. "We are doing all we can, along with the Cameroonian authorities, to get him freed."

In February a French family of seven, the Moulin-Fourniers, were kidnapped in the same region and taken over the border to Nigeria

The Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for their capture, demanding the release of family members in prison in Nigeria and Cameroon.

The Moulin-Fourniers were freed in April.

Eight French nationals are officially recognised as being held hostage across the world at the moment, while four being held in the Sahel region were freed earlier this month.