a us citizen living in niger has been kidnapped a nigerien ministry of defense source told abc news philip walton 27 was kidnapped from his backyard in the west african nation after his assailants asked him for money but he only offered 40 according to the source walton lives with his wife and young daughter on a farm near massalata a small village in southern niger near the countrys border with nigeria more senior us delegation meets with nigerias vice president after killing of endsars protesters a spokesperson for the us department of state confirmed to abc news that an american citizen has been abducted in niger and that the us government is providing their family all possible consular assistance the spokesperson declined to comment further on the case citing privacy considerations but added when a us citizen is missing we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts and we share information with families however we can a magnifying glass hovers over a map of north and west africa in this undated stock photo stock photogetty images the nigerien ministry of defense source told abc news that the kidnappers are believed to be an armed group from neighboring nigeria but for now the incident isnt considered terrorrelated more why george floyds death reverberated in africa niger which is three times the size of california and home to some 22 million people is one of many nations in africas sahel region that is plagued by terrorism and instability but the nigerien military has been a close partner to the united states in the fight against regional jihadist groups including affiliates of both al qaeda and isis last week a united nationsbacked donor summit raised 17 billion to support governments in the central sahel region as un secretarygeneral antonio guterres warned that a fastgrowing humanitarian crisis created by a combination of conflict climatic changes and poverty is at a breaking point with 134 million people in burkina faso mali and niger who are in need of assistance and protection this year to survive