News|ISIL/ISISUS missionary abducted in Niger’s capital, State Department confirmsThe kidnapped man is a pilot for an evangelical organisation, a diplomatic source says.
A US national affiliated with an evangelical Christian organization has been abducted in Niamey, Niger, according to the US State Department. The embassy in Niamey is actively engaged in efforts to ensure the individual's safe release.
A US national affiliated with an evangelical Christian organization has been abducted in Niamey, Niger, according to the US State Department. The embassy in Niamey is actively engaged in efforts to ensure the individual's safe release.
The individual, a male in his 50s, was taken on Tuesday evening and was reportedly being transported toward the Mali border. The victim is identified as a pilot working with the evangelical organization Serving in Mission (SIM). SIM operates globally with a focus on spreading its religious teachings.
The abduction occurred in Niamey’s Plateau area as the victim was en route to the airport. The perpetrators, numbering three, directed the victim toward the Tillaberi region, known for the presence of armed groups linked to ISIL and al-Qaeda.
Reports indicate the man has been active in Niger since 2010, with the abduction occurring in proximity to the presidential palace. No group has publicly claimed responsibility for this incident or demanded a ransom.
A US national affiliated with an evangelical Christian organization has been abducted in Niamey, Niger, according to the US State Department.
This incident forms part of a broader pattern of kidnappings in Niger, a nation confronting long-standing threats from armed groups associated with al-Qaeda and ISIL. The security situation has been increasingly unstable following the military overthrow of the government in July 2023.
In recent months, several foreign nationals have been kidnapped, including a Swiss national in Agadez and an Austrian individual earlier this year. Observers attribute these kidnappings to local criminal groups operating on behalf of ISIL.
Additional kidnappings this year have involved Moroccan, Chinese, and Indian nationals, reflecting the broader regional instability. Niger, along with other West African countries, continues to face armed conflicts that have resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
Following the 2023 coup, US and French military personnel previously assisting in regional security efforts were expelled. Subsequently, Niger has sought assistance from other entities to manage its security challenges.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
