American Navy SEAL Team rescues American hostage in northern Nigeria, kills abductors

Posted by admin American Politics, Headlines, NNP News Saturday, October 31st, 2020

(NNP) Special American forces, the Navy SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden, today rescued an American hostage held by armed men in northern Nigeria. The 27 year-old man, Philip Walton, a missionary in neighboring Niger Republic, was abducted earlier in the week by men on motorcycle armed with Ak-47 who took took him across the border to their hideout.

A spokesman for the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense, Jonathan Hoffman, said in a statement, “U.S. forces conducted a hostage rescue operation during the early hours of 31 October in Northern Nigeria to recover an American citizen held hostage by a group of armed men. This American citizen is safe and is now in the care of the U.S. Department of State. No U.S military personnel were injured during the operation.” The statement went further “We appreciate the support of our international partners in conducting this operation. The United States will continue to protect our people and our interests anywhere in the world.”

The Navy SEAL Team 6 killed six out of the seven abductors with no American casualty. A statement from the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo stated, “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,” Pompeo said in a statement. “We will never abandon any American taken hostage.” It was not clear if the Nigerian government was consulted, granted permission or participated in the rescue. The men were not known to be affiliated with any terrorist groups.

-NewNigerianPoliticswp_posts