American missionary Kevin Rideout has been released in Niger after more than nine months in captivity, according to the Christian mission group SIM International. The organization said Rideout, who was taken near his home in the capital of Niamey, is now in the care of U.S. officials and is in good health.
SIM International said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital that it was grateful to confirm the release of its “good friend and brother in Christ.” The group said Rideout, a pilot serving with the North Carolina-based mission, had been held since his abduction on Oct. 21, 2025. It added that he will soon be reunited with his wife, Krista, their children and extended family. The statement also thanked people around the world for their prayers during his captivity and noted the support of the SIM community.
The case drew attention because Rideout was kidnapped in Niamey only about 150 feet from Niger’s presidential palace, according to The Washington Post. That detail underscored how bold the abduction was and how volatile the security situation has become in the country’s capital. No information has been released about the group responsible, though the Post reported that analysts speculated the kidnapping could be tied to Islamic terror groups operating in the region.
Niger has faced a worsening militant threat since a military junta overthrew the country’s democratically elected government in 2023. After the coup, the military forced French and U.S. forces out, which led to the departure of Western personnel from Air Base 101 in Niamey, according to U.S. Africa Command. Since then, groups linked to ISIS and al Qaeda have expanded their influence in parts of the Sahel, adding pressure to a region already marked by repeated attacks and instability.
