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Armed men have kidnapped a United States pilot in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, sparking a massive manhunt by the country’s security forces.
Security sources confirmed on Wednesday that the victim, a 48-year-old pilot working with a Christian humanitarian organisation, was seized from his residence in the early hours of the morning.
According to reports, the abduction took place in a heavily guarded area at the heart of Niamey, where the pilot had been stationed for a humanitarian mission.
Nigerien security authorities have launched a nationwide search to locate the victim and track down the perpetrators.
Although no group has yet claimed responsibility, officials say militant organisations linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) have an active presence in parts of Niger. However, kidnappings within Niamey itself are said to be extremely rare — the last known case occurring in 2011.
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 the capital. Both women, long-term residents of Niger, were reportedly taken into neighbouring Mali and sold to Islamic State militants. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
The Sahel region, spanning Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has been regarded as one of the most dangerous zones in the world for over a decade due to rampant terrorist activity and cross-border attacks.
Niger’s security landscape has worsened since the 2023 military coup, which saw the junta cut ties with several Western partners and end longstanding counterterrorism collaborations with France and the United States.
