US Missionary Regains Freedom After Nine Months in Captivity in Niger

An American Christian missionary, Kevin Rideout, has regained his freedom after spending more than nine months in captivity following his abduction in Niger, his organisation, SIM International, has confirmed.

Rideout was kidnapped outside his home in Niamey, the Nigerien capital, in October 2025 by three armed men who reportedly took him to the western Tillaberi region, an area known for militant activity.

SIM International, in a statement on Friday, said Rideout was “in good health in the care of US officials.”

The New York Times, which first reported his release, cited unnamed US officials as saying Rideout was in FBI custody. However, details surrounding his release and the identity of his captors remained unclear.

There had been concerns that Rideout might have been held by Islamist militants, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, JNIM, an al-Qaeda-linked group active across parts of the Sahel.

Reuters, citing diplomatic sources, reported that the armed men who abducted Rideout took him to Tillaberi shortly after the kidnapping.

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