American missionary freed after nine‑month captivity in Niger

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:21:26 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A US missionary, Kevin Rideout, has been released following a 9‑month abduction in Niger, with U.S. officials reporting his safe return.

Kevin Rideout, a long‑time Christian missionary in Niger, was kidnapped last year and held for more than nine months. U.S. officials confirmed his release, noting that he is in good health and under FBI custody. The kidnapping, which occurred outside his home in Niamey, was carried out by armed men linked to militant groups operating in the country's Tillaberi region. Rideout’s organization, SIM International, said he would soon reunite with family and expressed gratitude for global prayers. His case highlights the continued threats to foreign workers in the Sahel region amid persistent militant activity.

American missionary freed after nine‑month captivity in Niger

Kevin Rideout, an American Christian missionary, was released after spending more than nine months in captivity. The international Christian organisation he served, SIM International, announced his release, confirming he is in good health and in the care of U.S. officials.

Rideout was kidnapped outside his home in Niamey, Niger’s capital, on 1 October 2025. The abduction was carried out by three armed men who transported him to the western Tillaberi region—a hotbed of militant activity linked to groups such as Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM), an al‑Qaeda affiliate.

The New York Times cited unnamed U.S. officials saying Rideout is now in FBI custody, although the exact circumstances of his release remain unclear. The organization suspected militants were responsible, given the region’s longstanding security challenges and the use of abductions as a tactic.

Rideout had been working in Niger for 19 years as a missionary and simultaneously served as a pilot for SIM International, which has operations in more than 70 countries. His release has been seen as “incredibly good news” by the organization, which thanked the global community for prayers offered during his captivity.

The family now expects to be reunited and to rebuild after the prolonged absence. They have requested privacy as they reconnect.

This episode underscores the broader security climate across the Sahel, as Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria continue to confront militant attacks and other violent threats that destabilise the region.