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American missionary abducted in Niger as security worsens, sources say
- An American missionary was seized late Tuesday night in Niamey, kidnapped from his home in the Plateau district about 100 yards from the presidential palace.
- Following the 2023 coup and rising armed-group activity, officials flagged this seizure as part of a broader pattern amid a string of kidnappings this year in Niger, with security officials speculating Islamic State in the Greater Sahara involvement.
- Security sources said three armed individuals neutralized the guard and abducted the man, and the victim's phone was tracked less than an hour later to an area about 56 miles north of Niamey.
- The U.S. State Department said it is aware of reports and the U.S. Embassy in Niamey is working with local authorities to secure the man's safe return, while no group has claimed responsibility.
- The abduction underscores broader security challenges for Niger and its international partners in the Sahel after the July 2023 coup and expulsion of U.S. and French forces, which officials say weakened monitoring.
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Alert: Missionary Kidnapped in Niger, Believed to Be Headed for Area Where ISIS, al-Qaida Are Active
An American missionary has been kidnapped in Niger, with some reports saying he could be headed to areas where extremists who support the Islamic State and al-Qaida are based. Kevin […] The post Alert: Missionary Kidnapped in Niger, Believed to Be Headed for Area Where ISIS, al-Qaida Are Active appeared first on The Western Journal.
·Phoenix, United States
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American abducted by suspected jihadists in Niger
Kevin Rideout, an American missionary in Niger’s capital of Niamey since 2010, was abducted from his home by suspected jihadists just 100 yards from Niger’s Presidential Palace. Regional security in the Sahel continues to falter as both the Islamic State and Al Qaeda continue to surge.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources49
Leaning Left11Leaning Right12Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Right
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Right
40% Right
L 37%
C 23%
R 40%
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