A Naval Special Warfare group in the United States, popularly addressed as SEAL Team Six, has rescued a U.S. citizen, Philip Walton, held hostage in Nigeria.
Mr Walton was reportedly kidnapped in Niger and rescued in a neighbouring town in northern Nigeria.
The mission was undertaken by elite commandos as part of a major effort to free the 27-year-old before his abductors could get far after taking him captive in Niger on October 26, counterterrorism officials told ABC News, a U.S. medium.
The UK Sun reported that Walton’s kidnappers called and demanded ransom from his dad, who lives half a mile away from the farm in Niger.
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.”
Giving further details on the rescue mission, the chief Pentagon spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, said the U.S. forces conducted the operation during the early hours of 31 October.
“No U.S military personnel were injured during the operation. We appreciate the support of our international partners in conducting this operation,” he said in a statement.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, praised the operation.
“The United States is committed to the safe return of all U.S. citizens taken captive. We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most skilled warriors rescued a U.S. citizen after a group of armed men took him hostage across the border in Niger,” he said.
– Premium Times
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