American Missionary Kevin Rideout Released After Nine Months in Niger
Kevin Rideout, a missionary pilot with SIM International, was freed in August 2026 after being held captive in Niger for more than nine months. Rideout was kidnapped near his home in Niamey on October 21, 2025, and moved to the Tillaberi region, an area with active Islamist militant groups. He is now in U.S. custody and expected to reunite with his family.
Kevin Rideout, an American missionary pilot based in Niamey, Niger, was released in August 2026 after more than nine months in captivity. Rideout, who works with the Charlotte-based Christian organization SIM International, was kidnapped on October 21, 2025, by three unidentified individuals near his home in the Nigerien capital.
After his abduction, Rideout was moved toward the Tillaberi region in western Niger, an area known for activity by Islamist militant groups including the Islamic State Sahel Province and the al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM.
SIM International confirmed that Rideout is in good health following his release. He is expected to reunite with his wife, Krista, and their children. The FBI has been involved in his care since his release.
President Donald Trump addressed the situation on social media, stating that Rideout had been held by "Jihadi terrorists" and that he had assisted in efforts to secure the missionary's release. Specific details about how the release was arranged have not been disclosed.
Niger's security situation has been volatile since a military coup in 2023, which led to the expulsion of U.S. and French military forces and created conditions that allowed militant groups to expand their reach across the country.
SIM International, founded in 1893, operates in more than 70 countries and focuses on medical, educational, and church-planting work in underserved communities. The organization asked supporters to continue praying for Rideout and his family as they begin the process of recovery and reunification.
