US missionary released following kidnap in Niger, Christian group says

American missionary, Kevin Rideout, has been released after being held captive for over nine months in Niger. SIM International, the Christian organization he worked for, announced his release on Friday, stating that he was in good health under the care of US officials. Rideout was kidnapped outside his home in Niamey, Niger's capital, in October last year.

Initially reported by The New York Times, Rideout is now in FBI custody, though the specifics of his release and his captors remain unclear. The kidnapping took place in the western Tillaberi region, known for its association with militant activities. Rideout was taken to this region by three armed men, possibly linked to militant groups such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda affiliate.

The region in Niger has seen a surge in violence due to militant groups from Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso. In response to the increased risk of terrorism and civil unrest, the US government warned its citizens against traveling to Niger. Rideout, who is also a pilot, had been working as a Christian missionary in Niger for 19 years.

His family is deeply grateful for the global support they received during his captivity and is now eager to reconnect with him. This release comes amidst ongoing terror attacks in several West African and Sahel countries, including Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria.