The United State military forces have successfully rescued an American hostage in Nigeria.
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In a statement released by the Pentagon on Saturday, the hostage victim was abducted in Niger Republic before being taken across the border to Nigeria. It was in Nigeria that the US forces freed him from his captors without recording casualties.
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“The United States is committed to the safe return of all US citizens taken captive,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a separate statement.
“We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most skilled warriors rescued a US citizen,” he added.
The name of the hostage was given as Philip Nathan Walton, he is now however in the care of the US State Department. Philip was taken from his farm in Massalata village in southern Niger early on Tuesday morning by armed men who demanded ransom from the man’s father.
President Donald Trump said in a tweet it was a “big win for our very elite US Special Forces today” and details would come later.
Walton, who kept camels, sheep and poultry and grew mangos near the border with Nigeria, was kidnapped by six men armed with AK-47 assault rifles who arrived on motorcycles at his home.
His wife, young daughter and brother were left behind.
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