February 21, 2013: Security guard shows photos of the French family kidnapped on February 19.

Story highlights

A French family kidnapped in northern Cameroon earlier this year has been released

Four children, their parents and an uncle were kidnapped in February in Waza National Park

The seven members of the family were handed over to government officials unharmed

Yaounde, Cameroon CNN  — 

A French family kidnapped in northern Cameroon earlier this year has been released, the Cameroonian government said Friday.

The seven members of the family were handed over to government officials late Thursday and are unharmed, said Cameroon’s Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakari.

The family of four children, their parents and an uncle were kidnapped in February in Waza National Park, a thickly forested area of northern Cameroon popular among tourists and situated near the border with Nigeria.

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