•A kidnap victim
An American missionary was kidnapped in Niger’s capital Niamey, three security sources said today.
The missionary, who is a pilot for the evangelical missionary agency Serving in Mission, was seized by three unidentified men as he headed to the airport on last night in Niger’s Plateau neighbourhood, a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity told our correspondent.
The kidnappers then headed toward the western Tillaberi region of Niger, where Islamist militants linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda are active, the diplomat added, reports Reuters.
Two other sources for the abduction had no details.
The U.S. State Department said it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was kidnapped in Niamey, Niger, and was working with local authorities. It did not elaborate.
Kidnappings appear to have intensified this year in areas of West Africa where militants operate, with an Austrian woman abducted in January and a Swiss citizen in April, both in Niger.
In addition, five Indian citizens working for a company providing services to Niger’s Kandadji dam project were kidnapped during an attack by armed men in April that also killed a dozen soldiers.
