Rome — Two Italian priests and a Canadian nun working as missionaries in northern Cameroon were abducted before dawn on Saturday April 05 in their residences by two armed groups in the western African country, Italian government and Catholic Church officials said according to Associated Press (AP).

Italy's Foreign Ministry identified the priests as Fr Giampaolo Marta and Fr Gianantonio Allegri, but declined to give other details, including the Canadian's identity, to avoid compromising efforts for the missionaries' release.

It noted that its website cautions against travel in the area, 30 kilometers from the border with Nigeria "in consideration of the risk of kidnappings due to presence of militants coming from Nigeria."

A Vatican spokesman, the Rev Ciro Benedettini, said the priests were assigned from the Vicenza diocese in northern Italy.

The missionaries who were kidnapped "are greatly loved and greatly appreciated," Vicenza diocese spokesman the Rev Alessio Graziani said. "The people there have great esteem for them."

Benedettini said Pope Francis was told early Saturday about the abduction, was praying for the three and "expressed hope for a solution."

Vatican Radio said the three were seized by the armed kidnappers in the diocese of Maroua.