US Missionary Abducted in Niger’s Capital Niamey
A United States missionary working for the evangelical Christian organisation SIM has been abducted in Niamey, the capital of Niger, diplomatic and security sources confirmed on Wednesday. The unnamed victim, a man in his 50s, was reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday and is believed to be “already en route for the border with Mali,” according to a diplomatic source familiar with the case. The incident marks the latest in a series of abductions targeting Western nationals in northern Niger, a country grappling with jihadist violence and governed by a military junta for more than two years. SIM, a faith-based humanitarian organisation, operates across Niger and several West African countries, focusing on evangelism, healthcare, education, and clean water access. In April, a 67-year-old Swiss woman identified as “Claudia” was abducted in the northern city of Agadez, just three months after Austrian national […]