The President of the United States, Donald Trump, on
Saturday commended the country’s Special Operations soldiers who rescued
27-year-old American, Philip Watson, kidnapped in Niger for ransom.
Trump, via his Twitter handle,
@realDonaldTrump, stated that the US saluted the courage of the soldiers for
the operation.
He tweeted, “Last night, our country’s brave warriors
rescued an American hostage in Nigeria. Our nation salutes the courageous
soldiers behind the daring nighttime rescue operation and celebrates the safe
return of yet another American citizen.”
Similarly, the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in a
statement titled, ‘US Rescues American Held Hostage in Nigeria,’ noted that the
US was committed to the safe return of the country’s citizens taken captive.
It added, “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 Washington Post reported
that the American citizen was kidnapped on Tuesday in Masalata region, Niger,
and the Pentagon said US Navy SEAL Team Six led the overnight operation in
northern Nigeria, where fighters loyal to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State had
bases. It noted that none of the service members was injured in the raid.
The newspaper quoting a US official who was not authorised
to speak on the matter said the assailants forced Watson from his farm in
remote Masalata on Tuesday, demanding more than $1m from his family, who are
missionaries, and threatened to sell him to extremists.
According to The Guardian (US), in a statement
issued as the President campaigned in Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon, he
said, “Last night, at my direction, the United States military conducted a
successful operation to rescue an American hostage in Nigeria, kidnapped just
96 hours earlier. United States Special Forces executed a daring nighttime
operation to rescue their fellow American with exceptional skill, precision and
bravery … The former hostage is currently in good health and has been reunited
with his family.’’
It was reported that Walton reared camels, sheep and poultry
and grew mangoes near the border with Nigeria. He was said to have been
abducted by six men armed with assault rifles on motorcycles who forcibly took
him away.
His abductors reportedly left his wife, young daughter and
brother behind.
Despite support from French and US forces, Niger, like most
countries in the Sahel region, grapples with disorder as groups with links to
al-Qaeda and the Islamic State battle the army and civilians.
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