An American missionary, Kevin Rideout, has been released after being held captive for over nine months in Niger. Rideout, who was kidnapped outside his home in the capital city of Niamey in October, is reportedly in good health and under the care of U.S. officials.
SIM International, the Christian organization Rideout works for, confirmed his release in a statement on Friday. The New York Times, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that Rideout is now in FBI custody, though specific details surrounding his release and the identity of his captors remain undisclosed.
Rideout was reportedly abducted by three armed men and taken to the Tillaberi region, an area known for militant activity. There were concerns he may have been taken by militants affiliated with groups such as Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate active in the region. Islamist militant groups from neighboring countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, have been a persistent source of violence in Niger, targeting both civilians and security forces.
In the wake of Rideout's kidnapping, the U.S. issued a warning advising its citizens against travel to Niger due to an elevated risk of terrorism, crime, and civil unrest. Rideout, who has served as a missionary in Niger for 19 years and also works as a pilot for SIM International, is expected to be reunited with his wife, children, and extended family soon.
The release comes amid ongoing struggles with terror attacks and regional destabilization in West Africa and the Sahel. Countries like Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria have experienced over a decade of violence, resulting in thousands of casualties and a series of governmental overthrows.