US MISSIONARY FREED AFTER NINE MONTHS IN CAPTIVITY IN NIGER REPUBLIC
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
American Christian missionary Kevin Rideout has regained his freedom after more than nine months in captivity following his abduction in Niger, according to his organisation, SIM International.
Rideout was reportedly kidnapped outside his residence in Niamey, Niger’s capital, in October 2025 by three armed men who took him to the western Tillaberi region, an area affected by militant activities.
SIM International confirmed on Friday that Rideout was in good health and receiving care from US officials.
The New York Times, which first reported his release, cited US officials as saying Rideout was in the custody of the FBI. However, details surrounding his release and the identity of his captors remain unclear.
There had been concerns that he was being held by militant groups, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda affiliate operating in the region.
Rideout, a pilot who had spent 19 years working as a Christian missionary in Niger, also served as a pilot for SIM International, a Christian organisation operating in more than 70 countries.
SIM International described his release as “incredibly good news” and said he would soon be reunited with his wife, children and extended family.
The organisation also thanked people around the world for their prayers during his captivity and appealed for privacy for the family as they adjust to his return.
His release comes amid persistent insecurity in Niger and other parts of the Sahel, where militant groups continue to carry out attacks and kidnappings.
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