Boko Haram 'in Cameroon kidnappings'

Thousands of people have fled from Nigeria to Cameroon because of Boko Haram attacks

Suspected militants from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram have kidnapped at least 60 people in neighbouring Cameroon, officials say.

They said many of those kidnapped in the cross border attack against villages were children.

Several people were killed, security officials said.

Boko Haram has seized control of many towns and villages in north-east Nigeria, and has begun threatening some of the country's neighbours.

The group has been fighting a six-year insurgency to create an Islamic state.

In Sunday's attack, suspected militants "burst into two villages in the Tourou area," a police officer said.

"They torched houses and left with around 60 people. Most of these people were women and children."

Officials told Reuters that as many as 80 people had been kidnapped. Those abducted included about 30 adults and 50 young children, an army officer deployed to northern Cameroon told the agency.

Cameroon has criticised Nigeria for failing to do more to confront Boko Haram.

The militants have kidnapped many people in north-eastern Nigeria, including more than 200 girls from a school in Chibok last April.