Niger: German national kidnapped in Ayorou April 11

Event

Unidentified gunmen kidnapped a German national working for an NGO in Ayorou, Tillabéri région (near the border with Mali), on Wednesday, April 11. The attackers reportedly ambushed the humanitarian worker’s car and beat him before abducting him. No group has claimed responsibility as of April 12.

Context

Niger faces a high threat from terrorism, including armed attacks and abductions. Militant Islamist cells from various Nigerian and Malian terrorist groups - including Boko Haram as well as Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), and Al-Mourabitoun - are all active in the country.

Officials placed the Tillabéry and Tahoua regions under a state of emergency in March 2017 due to an increase in attacks by Islamist terrorist groups. The state of emergency is currently set to remain in place until mid-2018.

Advice

Due to the terrorist threat, individuals throughout Niger should exercise vigilance when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted by an attack (government buildings, prominent hotels, etc.) and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Many Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to areas located in the north and west of the country, as well as areas along the Nigerian border to the south, due to the high risk of terrorist activity.