"It is too early to determine the identity of the kidnappers, who have returned to Mali. The authorities have put the region on maximum alert", the source said, asking not to be named.
Niger's long, porous borders make it occasionally vulnerable to the armed violence that has rocked neighbouring states including Mali in recent years.
Northern Mali, which fell under the control of Al-Qaeda-linked jihadi groups in 2012 before a French-led military intervention pushed them out, remains subject to attacks by jihadists.
"All roads to Mali are being monitored," the source added.
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In January 2011, two young French people were kidnapped from a restaurant in Niamey and were killed shortly afterwards during a rescue attempt.
The previous year, five employees of the French energy firm Areva were kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) from a uranium mine in Arlit, north of the country.
Earlier this month, 22 soldiers from Niger were killed during an attack by armed men who came from Mali to target a refugee camp in the Tahoua region, northeast of Niamey.
Three soldiers were also injured, according to Niger's army, which has been deployed along the country's longer border with Mali to prevent armed groups getting in.
Niamey is also calling for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Mali.
Despite a peace accord and a 2013 international military intervention, large tracts of Mali are still not controlled by domestic or foreign troops and remain subject to attacks by jihadists.
Niger also faces constant attacks in the southeast of the country from Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram.
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