American missionary Kevin Rideout has been released after more than nine months in captivity in Niger, ending an ordeal that began with his abduction from the capital last October. Rideout, a pilot for SIM International who had worked in Niger for 19 years, is in good health and in the care of US officials, the organization confirmed.
Rideout was seized by three armed men outside his home in Niamey on 21 October 2025, roughly 100 yards from the presidential palace. He was reportedly taken to the Tillaberi region, a known militant hotspot, and fears centered on his captors being linked to JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
Niger has been plagued by violence from groups tied to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. The country, ruled by a military junta since a 2023 coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, saw more than 30 people killed in a June 2026 attack on Niamey's main airport. The US has warned citizens against travel to Niger due to terrorism and civil unrest risks.