US aid worker kidnapped in central Niger by gunmen who killed his two guards

(Stock image)

Gunmen raided the house of a U.S. aid worker in central Niger overnight, killing his two guards before driving him off across the desert towards Mali, the mayor of the town said on Saturday.

"First they came on a motorbike and killed the guards," the mayor of Abalak told Reuters by telephone.

"Then a 4x4 came and took him away and drove towards the Mali border." 

Reuters