A US citizen and missionary has been kidnapped from his home in the West African nation of Niger, multiple security sources have confirmed to CBS News.
The kidnapping occurred in the capital city of Niamey, approximately 100 yards from the presidential palace, where ousted President Mohamed Bazoum has been held since his overthrow in a coup in 2023.
The gunmen, who were reportedly armed, took the American missionary, who has been working in Niger since 2010, and fled the scene.
The US State Department has acknowledged the reports and is working with local authorities to secure the safe return of the kidnapped American.
The missionary’s phone was tracked to a location around 56 miles north of Niamey, an area known to be a sanctuary for groups affiliated with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.
The kidnapping has raised concerns about the security situation in Niger, which has been plagued by jihadist groups and military regimes since the coup.
