MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to the source, this is the first time that a US national was kidnapped in Niger.
"An American NGO worker was kidnapped Friday around 9pm local time in Abalak. It is too early to determine the identity of the kidnappers, who have returned to Mali. The authorities have put the region on maximum alert," a security source said as quoted by the newspaper on Saturday.
At least two people were killed in an exchange of gunfire that took place during the hostage taking, the source said, adding that "All roads to Mali are being monitored."
Niger is one of the countries that has been struggling with the Boko Haram extremist group.
Earlier this week, Nigerian Defense Minister Hassoumi Massoudou announced that Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Nigeria were preparing a final assault on Boko Haram.
