A local Nigerien government official says, gunmen kidnapped an American citizen in Niger early hours of Tuesday and demanded a ransom from his relatives.

Ibrahim Abba Lele, a prefect in Birni-N’Konni town, told The Associated Press that Philipe Nathan Walton was taken from his farm in Massalata in southern Niger.

He says the kidnappers called and demanded ransom from Walton’s father, who lives approximately 1 kilometer away from his son’s farm.

Veronic Njie reports.