Nigerian security forces have said they have narrowed in on the area where the Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram, have held the French hostages, kidnapped earlier this week.
Members of a Joint Task Force (JTF), in-charge of maintaining the peace in the lawless region, also moved into the area in order to conduct the rescue operations.
Sources said that the hostages are being held somewhere in the north-eastern part of the country, close to its border with Cameroon.
“I can confirm based on intelligence that the kidnappers are currently in some bush enclaves between Dikwa and Gamboru-Ngala border village,” said a security officer who did not want to be named.
“We have given the JTF squad all the necessary intelligence, and they are working seriously towards rescuing the French nationals without any incidence of losing anyone of them,” he added.
The seven French tourists were abducted in northern Cameroon while on tour and later taken into Nigeria by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.