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US forces rescue American citizen held hostage in N. Nigeria

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (KUNA) -- US forces rescued an American citizen held hostage by "armed men" in an operation conducted early Saturday in Northern Nigeria, the Pentagon announced.
"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," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.
The statement added "this American citizen is safe and is now in the care of the US Department of State." "No US military personnel were injured during the operation," it affirmed.
"We appreciate the support of our international partners in conducting this operation. The United States will continue to protect our people and our interests anywhere in the world, the statement concluded.
For his part, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a separate statement "thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our military, the support of our intelligence professionals, and our diplomatic efforts, the hostage will be reunited with his family." "We will never abandon any American taken hostage," he stressed.
Earlier, President Donald Trump tweeted "Big win for our very elite U.S. Special Forces today." (end) si