BREAKING: American Hostage Rescued By Seal Team 6 In West Africa
An American held captive by armed men in Nigeria has been rescued by a unit of the US Navy SEAL in what reports described to be a “daring raid.”
The Navy SEAL Team Six saved Philip Nathan Walton, 27, who was kidnapped on October 26 in his farm in the southwestern region of Massalata. Reports said he was detained by seven armed men after he gave them just US$40 after demanding him for money that time.
They then reportedly demanded for a US$1 million ransom from Walton’s family.
“Last night, our Country’s brave warriors rescued an American hostage in Nigeria. Our Nation salutes the courageous soldiers behind the daring nighttime rescue operation and celebrates the safe return of yet another American citizen!” President Donald Trump said following the successful operation.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1322568272483475457
In Pennsylvania on Saturday, President Trump made mention of the rescue: “The kidnappers wished they had never done it. We got our American citizen, we got our young man back, but the other side suffered gravely.”
The elite commandos, known for killing Osama bin Laden, killed six of the seven abductors and no US soldiers were injured during the mission.
The US government said it does not believe the abduction was terror-related, but cited risks that the American citizen would eventually be sold off to radical, terrorist groups operating in the region, as what often happens.
“US forces conducted a hostage rescue operation during the early hours of 31 October in Northern Nigeria to recover an American citizen held hostage by a group of armed men,” Chief Pentagon spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, said in a statement.
He added that no US military personnel were injured during the operation as he extended gratitude for the “support of international partners” in conducting the operation.
Walton has since returned to Niger according to the Chief Pentagon spokesman, where he “is safe” and “in the care of the US Department of State.”
McEnany:55 hostages rescued under Trump
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the rescue of Walton shows the Trump administration’s commitment to prioritizing the safety of every American.
“It was a successful operation to rescue an American hostage. We are so glad to see it. Under this president, we’ve rescued 55 hostages in 24 countries,” McEnany told “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
.@PressSec @KayleighMcEnany says SEALs' rescue of American hostage is 'story of' Trump presidency: 'We don't stop'
“Under @realDonaldTrump, we've rescued 55 hostages in 24 countries” https://t.co/Ml8IJrrtVI
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 31, 2020
The White House Press Secretary noted that unknown to the public, President Trump has been doing more than just campaigning a few days before the election and has in fact met with the US Special Forces involved in taking down ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Bagdadi last year.
President Trump also gave the green light for the airstrike that killed top terrorist, Qasem Soleimani.
“In the waning days of a presidency before a massive reelection, you typically don’t get a lot done, but this president is the exception. That’s the story of this presidency. We don’t stop. We go to 14 states, we rescue hostages, we secure Middle East peace, we do it in record time, and we do it three days before an election,” she added.
