American special forces including Navy seals yesterday morning rescued Philip Walton, 27-year-old, an American citizen taken hostage last week Tuesday in Massalata, a small village close to the border with Nigeria, US officials have confirmed.
The American citizen abducted from his home in Niger Republic was rescued in northern Nigeria, which neighbours Niger, with the troops believed to have killed several of his captors, two US officials said on condition of anonymity, adding that no US soldier was hurt.
The elite commandos jumped out of a US Air Force transport plane a few miles from the target and without suffering any casualties, the troops rescued him after killing at least six of his abductors.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman who confirmed in a media release said: “US forces conducted a hostage rescue operation during the early hours of 31 October in Northern Nigeria to recover an American citizen held hostage by a group of armed men”.
“This American citizen is safe and is now in the care of the US Department of State. No US military personnel were injured during the operation.”
President Donald Trump tweeted out a show of support, calling the SEAL team members “brave warriors,” and saying that “our nation salutes the courageous soldiers behind the daring nighttime rescue operation.” In a separate tweet, Trump described the operation as a “big win” for the elite force.
Also, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo in a statement said: “The United States is committed to the safe return of all US citizens taken captive. We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most skilled warriors rescued a US citizen after a group of armed men took him, hostage, across the border in Niger.
“Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our military, the support of our intelligence professionals, and our diplomatic efforts, the hostage will be reunited with his family. We will never abandon any American taken hostage.”
The hostage, Philipe Nathan Walton, was taken from his farm in Massalata in southern Niger bordering northern Nigeria early Tuesday morning by armed kidnappers who demanded a ransom from the man’s father.
Walton, who kept camels, sheep and poultry and grew mangoes near the border with Nigeria, was kidnapped by six men armed with assault rifles who arrived on motorcycles at his home in southern Niger’s Massalata village.
His wife, young daughter and brother were left behind. The perpetrators demanded money and searched the home before leaving with Walton.
Niger has faced a growing number of attacks by extremists linked to both the Islamic State group and to al-Qaida. The kidnapping comes two months after IS-linked militants killed six French aid workers and their Niger guide while they were visiting a wildlife park east of the capital.
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What a sad and unfortunate development. It’s obvious that the #endsars had also contributed to this desecration of Nigerian sovereignty, thanks to leaches kanu for causing the chaos to distract the attention of our security for the US to enter our country and get out without permission.