US Missionary Freed After More Than Nine Months in Niger Captivity

American Christian missionary Kevin Rideout has been released after spending more than nine months in captivity in Niger, according to his organisation, SIM International.

Rideout was abducted in October 2025 outside his home in Niamey, the Nigerien capital. Three armed men reportedly seized him and took him to the Tillaberi region in western Niger, an area affected by militant activity.

SIM International said Rideout was in good health and was receiving care from US officials following his release.

The circumstances surrounding his freedom, including who held him and how he was released, have not been publicly disclosed.

The New York Times, which first reported his release, cited US officials as saying Rideout was in FBI custody.

There had previously been concerns that he could have been held by jihadist militants, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda-linked group active in the Sahel.

Rideout had worked as a Christian missionary in Niger for about 19 years and also served as a pilot for SIM International, which operates in more than 70 countries.

The United States had warned its citizens against travelling to Niger following his abduction, citing increased risks of terrorism, crime and civil unrest.

SIM International described his release as “incredibly good news” after months of uncertainty over his safety.

The organisation said Rideout would be reunited with his wife, children and extended family.

His family thanked people around the world for their prayers and support during his captivity and requested privacy as they adjust to his return.

Rideout’s release comes amid continued insecurity across Niger and the wider Sahel, where armed groups have carried out attacks and kidnappings targeting civilians and security personnel.

Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and parts of Nigeria have faced years of militant violence, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.

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