Austrian woman kidnapped by unknown assailants in Niger

Austria’s foreign ministry says a female citizen has been taken by unknown assailants in the military-led West African country of Niger.

He confirmed the incident to AFP and said they were aware of a “possible kidnapping of an Austrian woman” in Agadez, 900 kilometers (559 miles) from the capital Niamey.

The woman was allegedly forced into a 4×4 vehicle by unidentified people in the Fada district, Agadez, on the edge of the Sahara desert, Reuters news agency reported.

The victim, identified as Eva Gretzmacher, is a development worker in her mid-70s and had lived in Niger for more than two decades, according to local media. Air Info Agadez.

Niger has not yet commented on the incident.

According to Air Info, kidnappers showed up at Mrs. Gretzmacher’s house with a gun and forced them inside. They did not take anything else, reports say.

Mrs. Gretzmacher is said to have carried out projects in the fields of education, health, women’s empowerment and culture.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry said they are working with the EU delegation and authorities.

Niger has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for years.

The military junta is under pressure for not stopping militant attacks, one of the justifications for removing democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum from office in July 2023.

Along with neighbors Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, it is dealing with attacks by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Since the coup, Niger has asked France and other Western powers to withdraw their military bases and formed a security alliance with junta-led neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso.