Macro: French ambassador is being held hostage at Nigeria Embassy

French President Emmanuel Macron said France's ambassador to Niger and other French diplomats “are being held hostage at the University of Nigeria”.

Speaking at a conference during a visit to the Cote D'Or region on Friday, Macron said that “stopped sending food” to the embassy in Niamey and that the ambassador was feeding on “military relocation”, reports CNN.

“Ambassador Sylvain Itte cannot come out he's a non-grata person and he's denied food”, Macron said.

After taking control of the West African country in July, the military junta ordered Ambassador Itte to leave Nigeria. Later, his visa was removed and instructed by the police to expel him.

But the diplomat remained in place, according to the French presidency, until French authorities reiterated that they do not recognise the authority of the junta.

Asked whether he would work for the return of the ambassador to France, Macron stressed the authority of the fallen president of Nigeria, Mohammed Basilum: “I will do everything we agree to with President Bazoum, because he is the legitimate authority and I speak to him every day”