German aid worker kidnapped in Niger

A German aid worker has been abducted in the west of Niger near the border with Mali.

Officials say the man and his colleagues were travelling on Wednesday when gunmen on motorcycles stopped them, and burnt their vehicle.

It is not immediately clear who was behind the abduction and whether the German's colleagues were also seized. 

So far, the kidnappers have not made any demands.

The German national is reported to have been working for the aid group Help. 

He was seized near Ayorou, in Tillaberi. It is a dangerous part of Niger where militant Islamists regularly target the army. Four US soldiers were also killed there last October.

 BBC