An Austrian woman was kidnapped in northern Niger, in the city of Agadez, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday January 12 to Agence France-Presse (AFP). “Unfortunately, we confirm”wrote the latter in response to a request from AFP.
Previously, the ministry said its embassy in Algiers, which is responsible for Niger, had “been informed of the possible kidnapping of an Austrian woman in Agadez”, adding to be in contact with partner countries and the European Union delegation, as well as with other regional authorities on site. The authorities of the city of Agadez did not wish to comment.
The local media Air Info reported that armed men kidnapped Eva Gretzmacher, 73, who has lived in Agadez for twenty-eight years, on Saturday evening. According to information collected by this media, the kidnappers showed up at his home and forced his guard to open the door at gunpoint. They then entered the house and forced Mme Gretzmacher to get into a Toyota vehicle. They did not take any personal belongings, according to local media.
According to Air Info and the Austrian daily KurierEva Gretzmacher, who was born in Vienna, created in 2010 a center in Agadez carrying out projects in the fields of education, health, women's autonomy, ecology, culture and arts. In 2021, she had already been the subject of kidnapping threats, according to Air Info.
Source: Lemonde