Niger says US aid worker likely held by Mali jihadists

Follow 9News Nigeria On Social Media

Social sharing

A US aid worker kidnapped in Niger is likely being held by jihadists from the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), the country’s interior minister said Sunday.

Jeffery Woodke – the first American to be kidnapped in the west African country – was seized at gunpoint from his home in the central town of Abalak on Friday.

Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum told AFP that Niger’s forces had tracked the kidnappers across the border into Mali, towards the region of Menaka which is controlled by the al-Qaeda linked Mujao.

“He was probably kidnapped by the Mujao or handed over to the Mujao by those who abducted him,” said Bazoum by telephone.

“We have had no contact with the Mujao, which is a terrorist organisation,” he added.

Bazoum’s ministry said earlier that Woodke had been in the Abalak area since 1992 working for JEMED, an aid group helping the local Tuareg community.

Several foreigners

A local resident who knew him described him as “perfectly integrated with the population” speaking the Tuaregs’ Tamasheq language fluently as well as Fula and Arabic.

“We tried many times to make him leave the area as he was more exposed than ever, but he refused, saying he wasn’t afraid,” the resident said on condition of anonymity.

READ ALSO  We Are Aware Our Executive, Anjarwalla No Longer In Nigerian Custody, Binance Tells FG

Woodke’s kidnappers burst into his home at around 21:00 on Friday, killing a bodyguard and a member of the national guard before seizing the aid worker and heading west.

Mujao has abducted several foreigners in the restive region including in Mali and Algeria.

Northern Mali fell under the control of al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups in 2012. A French-led military intervention pushed them out, but swathes of the country remain out of government control and awash with armed groups.

Niger’s long, porous borders make it occasionally vulnerable to the armed violence in neighbouring countries.

Last week, 22 of Niger’s soldiers were killed when armed men who had travelled from Mali launched an attack on a refugee camp in the town of Tazalit.

Ransoms

Niger also faces constant attacks in the southeast from Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram.

The Tahoua region, where Friday’s kidnapping took place, neighbours Agadez where the US has a military base which it uses to launch surveillance drones targeting jihadist groups.

A senior security source told AFP the kidnapping came as a surprise, as “the Americans do not pay ransoms”.

In January 2011, two young French people were kidnapped from a restaurant in Niamey and were killed shortly afterwards during a rescue attempt.

The previous year, five employees of the French energy firm Areva were kidnapped by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) from a uranium mine in Arlit, north of the country.

READ ALSO  Chief Judge Set Up Panel Over Edo Deputy Governor's Impeachment Process

Four men were freed in 2013 after the earlier release of the sole female hostage.

Source: Today.ng 

Leave your comment on this post

THE ROTTEN FISH: CAN OF WORMS OPENED OF APC & TINUBU'S GOVERNMENT OVER NIGERIA'S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

WATCH THE CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND KNOW THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES TO BLAME FOR NIGERIA'S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, WHILE CITIZENS ENDURE SEVERE HARDSHIPS.

Watch this episode of ISSUES IN THE NEWS on 9News Nigeria featuring Peter Obi's Special Adviser, Dr Katch Ononuju, 9News Nigeria Publisher, Obinna Ejianya and Tinubu Support Group Leader, McHezekiah Eherechi

The economic crisis and hardship in Nigeria are parts of the discussion.


Watch, leave your comments, and share to create more awareness on this issue.


#9NewsNigeria #Nigeria #issuesInTheNews #politics #tinubu THE ROTTEN FISH: CAN OF WORMS OPENED ...
DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS FOR SUBSEQUENT UPDATES
#9newsnigeria #economia #economy #nigeria #government @9newsng
www.9newsng.com

Leave your comment

Click on the link below or Scan the QR Code to join the 9News Nigeria WhatsApp Channel

9News Nigeria Investigative Reports WhatsApp Channel
9News Nigeria Investigative Reports WhatsApp Channel
About Timothy Stephen 1104 Articles
9News Nigeria Global Breaking News Platform News from Nigeria News from Africa Nigerian News African News

Be the first to comment

Leave your comment