A massive security cordon is underway in Niamey after hoodlums kidnapped a 48-year-old American pilot working with a Christian humanitarian organisation in Niger Republic.
The pilot was reportedly taken from his residence in a heavily guarded area of the city, where he was stationed for a humanitarian mission. Nigerien authorities have since begun a manhunt for both the victim and his abductors.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, which took place late on Sunday night. The victim’s phone was last traced about 90 kilometres north of Niamey, an area known for militant activity near the Mali border.
The United States Embassy in Niamey has been briefed on the situation, while local police and military personnel have been deployed to possible escape routes leading out of the capital.
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Kidnappings are rare in Niamey, with the last reported case dating back to 2011. However, militant groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Islamic State continue to operate across parts of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, often targeting humanitarian workers and foreign nationals in rural areas.
Earlier this year, a 74-year-old Austrian woman and a 66-year-old Swiss woman were abducted in the desert town of Agadez, about 950 kilometres north of Niamey. Both were long-term residents of Niger and were reportedly taken across the border into Mali, where they remain missing.
Niger’s security situation has deteriorated since the July 2023 military coup, which disrupted partnerships with Western allies and reshaped the country’s counterterrorism operations. The latest abduction underscores the growing threat faced by aid workers and expatriates in the Sahel region.
Prime Business
