US forces have rescued an American hostage in Nigeria, the Pentagon said Saturday.
The man was abducted in Niger and taken across the border to Nigeria, where US forces freed him without suffering any casualties, it said.
“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,” Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.
“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 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 hostage was identified in Niger as Philip Walton. He is now safe and in the care of the US State Department, the Pentagon said.
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