DHAKA: A French hostage kidnapped by Islamist militants in Nigeria has asked for French and Nigerian government help in securing his release in a video released by his captors, according to the SITE web monitoring service.

If the video is confirmed as authentic it would be the first visual sign of life from Francis Collomp since around 30 gunmen stormed his compound on December 19 in the remote northern Nigerian town of Rimi, close to the Niger border where Al-Qaeda’s North African wing operates.

Western governments are increasingly concerned about Islamist militants in Africa’s Sahel region because of the risk it could become a platform for international jihadist attacks.

Ansaru militants said soon after Collomp’s abduction that he had been taken in retaliation for France’s planned military action against jihadi insurgents in nearby Mali, launched a month later, and its ban on wearing the full-face veil, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1810 HRS, SEPT 28, 2013
RoR/RIS