Three Filipinos and two Ukrainians were seized from a trawler off the Cameroon coast, a source close to an investigation into the abductions said Thursday.
The same source and a Cameroon newspaper had previously said the five abducted on Monday were all Chinese.
“After verification, it turns out that the hostages are not of Chinese nationality. Three are Filipinos and fishermen (and the others) are Ukrainians and mechanics,” said the source, citing the head of a group that was allowed to visit the hostages.
Several armed groups operate in waters off the Bakassi peninsula in southern Cameroon, which is potentially rich in oil and natural gas resources, as well as fish stocks.
Cameroonian officials on Thursday declined to comment on the affair, saying only that they were still gathering further information.
Le Jour newspaper had previous said the five men were Chinese and had probably been taken by Nigerian rebels, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). MEND has denied any part in the affair.
In the past year, there has been an increase in sea attacks off the Bakassi peninsula.
In March, six oil sector employees were kidnapped off Bakassi by two different groups. Four hostages were still in the hands of the captors on Tuesday, according to Le Jour.