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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria reports that unknown attackers captured a citizen of the country in the West African country of Niger, which is under the control of the military.
AFP confirmed the incident and said it was aware of a “possible abduction of an Austrian woman” in Agadez, 900 km (559 miles) from the capital Niamey.
The woman was reportedly forced into a 4×4 vehicle by unknown persons in the Fada district of Agadez, on the edge of the Sahara desert, Reuters reports.
According to local media reports, the victim, identified as Eva Gretzmacher, is a development worker in her 70s and has lived in Niger for more than two decades. Agadez air information.
Niger has not yet commented on the incident.
Air Info reported that the kidnappers showed up at Ms Gretzmacher’s house with guns and forced their way inside. They reportedly took nothing else.
Ms Gretzmacher is said to have led projects in education, health, women’s empowerment and culture.
Austria’s foreign ministry said it was working with the EU delegation and authorities on the ground.
Niger has been battling an Islamist insurgency for years.
The military junta is under pressure for its failure to stop militant attacks, which is one of the justifications for ousting democratically elected President Mohamed Bazum in July 2023.
Niger, along with its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, is fighting attacks by groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS.
After the coup, Niger called on France and other Western powers to withdraw their military bases and formed a security alliance with the neighboring junta of Mali and Burkina Faso.
