An American missionary pilot has been abducted in Niamey, the capital of Niger, in what authorities suspect to be another incident linked to the growing wave of militant activity in the region.
According to security sources on Wednesday, the victim, who works with the evangelical missionary organisation Serving in Mission (SIM), was kidnapped by three unidentified men while on his way to the airport on Tuesday night in Niamey’s Plateau neighbourhood.
A diplomatic source quoted by Reuters said the abductors fled toward Tillaberi, a region in western Niger known for its volatile security situation and the presence of Islamist militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS).
Two other sources confirmed the abduction but said further details about the incident remain unclear.
The U.S. State Department has since acknowledged the reports, confirming it is aware of the kidnapping and is working with Nigerien authorities to ensure the safe recovery of the American citizen. However, the department declined to provide additional information.
This latest incident adds to a worrying trend of increasing kidnappings across West Africa, particularly in Niger, where both foreign nationals and local residents have been frequent targets of armed groups.
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In January, an Austrian woman was abducted in Niger, followed by the kidnapping of a Swiss national in April. That same month, five Indian workers involved in Niger’s Kandadji dam project were taken hostage during an armed assault that left a dozen soldiers dead.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the missionary’s disappearance, while international efforts are underway to trace his whereabouts and secure his safe release.