A US citizen was kidnapped in southern Niger overnight from Monday to Tuesday by six attackers who came on foot.
as reported from Niger, Moussa Kaka
The kidnapped U.S. citizen had lived for a year in the Massalata fortress, not far from the border with Nigeria. A year ago, Philip Walton had bought a garden and moved there with his wife.
According to the governor of the Tahoua region, Abdourahamane Moussa, six attackers who came on foot and armed with AK-47s kidnapped him. When they entered his garden, the attackers demanded money from him. According to the governor of Massalata, the US citizen was wearing only 20,000 CFA francs (30 euros). After some hesitation, they removed it and set off again towards the Nigerian border, which is less than a kilometer away.
As soon as they were warned, the elements of the border police went out on the heels of the attackers. At this time, it is not known where the U.S. citizen and his captors are located. In his garden in Massalata, the police in Birni Nkonni were able to find the rest of his family members, his brother, his wife and their little girl, healthy and sound but traumatized.
There were six men who came on foot during the night and they kidnapped my son, Philip Walton. They looked around the house for money, but there was not enough money. There were only about 20,000 francs [CFA ndlr]. As a result, they left with him. They talked Hausa to each other and they tried to talk Hausa to Philip. They knew a few English words like “sit down” and “give money”. That’s how they did it. They were all six armed. Now they have been in contact with the people at the US Embassy and they will publish a message through The Voice of America. [le média américain aussi appelé Voice of America ndlr] with a number that people can call if they have any information.
The father of the kidnapped citizen tells the circumstances of the kidnapping
.
