Union Minister Jitendra Singh has stated that the Indian Embassy in Niamey, Niger, is actively working to secure the release of Ranjit Singh, an Indian national who was kidnapped in the Dosso region of Niger on July 15, 2025. The abduction occurred during a terrorist attack in which two other Indian nationals were killed.

Following the attack, the Indian Embassy in Niger posted on X (formerly Twitter) that it was in contact with local authorities to repatriate the remains of the deceased and ensure the safe release of the abducted individual. The embassy also advised all Indians in Niger to remain vigilant.

Singh shared an update on the situation, stating that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been continuously following up on the case through the Indian Embassy in Niamey. He conveyed the MEA's response, which affirmed the embassy's commitment to securing Ranjit Singh's release from his captors. The MEA also stated that the embassy is in contact with the Nigerien government to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased's remains and ensure the abducted individual's safety and early release.

Ranjit Singh is a resident of the Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir. He was working as a senior safety officer at Transrail Lighting Limited, an integrated power transmission and distribution company in Niger. Reports indicate that the attack occurred roughly 130 kilometers from Niamey, the capital of Niger. Unidentified gunmen ambushed a Nigerien army unit guarding a construction site.

The family of Ranjit Singh has appealed to the Indian government for swift intervention to ensure his safe return. His father, Mohan Lal, stated that his son last contacted the family around July 14-15 and that they learned of his abduction from news reports. Ranjit Singh's wife, Sheela Devi, said that she last spoke with her husband on July 15 and that the family was initially told there were network issues at his work site. They later learned of the abduction through a friend. Singh's mother, Sadhu Devi, expressed her distress and said that she has not eaten or slept since hearing about her son's abduction. She also mentioned that Ranjit has three young children who are worried about their father's safety.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged the External Affairs Minister to urgently intervene to secure Ranjit Singh's safe return. Abdullah's office posted on X, expressing concern over the abduction and requesting the EAM and MEA to take immediate action.

One of the deceased Indian nationals has been identified as Ganesh Karmali, 39, from Jharkhand. He also worked on a transmission line in Dosso and was reportedly caught in the crossfire between the attackers and the army.

The Indian Embassy in Niger has issued an advisory to all Indians in the country, urging them to remain vigilant. This is not the first time that Indians in Niger have been targeted. Foreign nationals are increasingly becoming targets of armed groups in the country.