The “Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims” (JNIM), affiliated with the terrorist organization “Al-Qaeda,” has released a video showing two men claiming to be Russians held captive by the group in Niger.
Speaking in English, the two individuals said they were working for a Russian company, which they did not name, and mentioned that they were detained in the Mbanga area.
Notably, the Mbanga area is near Niger’s borders with Mali and Burkina Faso and is known for its gold mines. One of the men identified himself as a geologist born in Russia but residing in Ukraine, while the other said he is from Russia and arrived in Niger for work a month ago.
The date of the video’s recording remains unknown, and the men did not specify when they were kidnapped. The video did not include any demands from the kidnappers.
It is worth mentioning that the “Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims” is active in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso and is considered one of the most dangerous militant groups in the region. They have previously kidnapped foreign nationals, who were later released.
