In Cameroon’s South-West region, dozens of people – many of them children – are reported to have been released several days after being abducted by suspected Anglophone separatists.

It is not yet clear if a ransom was paid for their release.

Earlier, we reported that an officer said a separatist commander, commonly referred to as General Ayeke, had said he was behind the kidnappings, and demanded a ransom.

Around 60 people were taken from Mmouck Leteh village on Sunday, prompting the Cameroon military to launch a search operation.

Separatists launched a rebellion in two English-speaking regions of Cameroon in 2016.

Since then around 3,000 people have been killed.

Earlier this month several imprisoned separatist leaders met a government representative in an effort to start peace talks. (BBC)