US Missionary Kevin Rideout Released After Nine Months in Niger Captivity

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

SIM said on Friday that Rideout was in good health and in the care of US officials. The organisation said he would soon be reunited with his wife, children and extended family.

Rideout, a missionary pilot with SIM International, was abducted on October 21, 2025, outside his home in Niamey, Niger’s capital. Three armed men were reported to have seized him and fled towards the country’s western Tillaberi region, an area where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State operate.

No armed group publicly claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and authorities have not disclosed details of who held Rideout or how his release was secured.

US President Donald Trump also confirmed Rideout’s release, saying the missionary was back in US custody and would soon return home.

Rideout had reportedly worked as a Christian missionary in Niger for about 19 years and also served as a pilot supporting missionary and humanitarian activities.

His abduction came amid deteriorating security conditions in Niger and across the wider Sahel, where jihadist groups have intensified attacks and kidnappings. Niger has been under military rule since a 2023 coup, following which its relations with Western governments, including the United States, deteriorated.

The circumstances surrounding Rideout’s release remain unclear, but his return marks an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty for his family and colleagues.

SIM International expressed gratitude to those who supported Rideout and his family during his captivity, while his safe release has been welcomed as a significant development amid continuing security challenges in the region.