US missionary kidnapped in Niger freed after more than nine months

American Christian missionary Kevin Rideout has been freed after being held captive for over nine months in Niger. SIM International, his organization, announced his release on Friday, stating that he is in good health under the care of US officials. The missionary was abducted in October 2025 outside his home in Niamey, the capital of Niger, by three armed men who took him to the western Tillaberi region, a known area for militant activity.

Rideout, who has worked in Niger for 19 years as a pilot and Christian missionary, was reportedly in FBI custody, though the details of his release and captor remain undisclosed. There were concerns that he may have been taken by militants, including members of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda affiliate active in the region.

The US had warned its citizens against traveling to Niger following his abduction due to an increased risk of terrorism, crime, and civil unrest. Rideout's family expressed gratitude for the prayers and support received during his captivity and requested privacy to reconnect with him. His release highlights the ongoing insecurity in Niger and the broader Sahel region, where jihadist groups have been responsible for numerous attacks and kidnappings targeting civilians and security forces.