An American citizen kidnapped by gunmen in Niger earlier this week has been freed, the country’ s defence minister told AFP on Saturday .
“ I confirm the American hostage was released last night, ” minister Issoufou Katambe said , without giving details of the circumstances of the release or the hostage ’ s whereabouts .
The hostage , Philip Walton , described as the son of a missionary living in Niger , was abducted Monday night on the outskirts of Massalata , a village about 10 kilometres ( six miles) from the border with Nigeria .
( AFP)
