An American missionary pilot who was kidnapped in Niger last fall has reportedly been released and is now heading back to the United States. Kevin Rideout, 50, was captured on October 21 by three unidentified men outside his home in the capital, Niamey, just blocks from the presidential palace, according to Christianity Today. The kidnappers were reportedly seen heading toward the Tillaberi region, an area where militants linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda are known to be active.
The U.S. Embassy in Niamey issued a security alert the following day, warning Americans of an increased risk of kidnapping. A State Department spokesperson confirmed that government efforts were underway to support the recovery and safe return of the U.S. citizen.
Rideout's release became a priority for the Trump White House and the military's Africa Command, who successfully brought him back into American custody on Thursday, two officials familiar with the matter told The New York Times. The exact details of his release remain unclear, as does the identity of the group that held him captive in the final stages of his captivity. However, proof-of-life images provided to American officials in the preceding 48 hours indicated he was in good health.
Rideout had been working in Niger as a Christian missionary for 19 years with Serving in Mission, a Charlotte-based evangelical organization. Experts suggest he was likely abducted by the Islamic State Sahel Province or criminal groups affiliated with the terrorist organization. The region has seen a surge in activity from such groups, exacerbated by security vacuums created by junta leaders expelling Western military assistance and closing the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali in 2023.
In Niger, the military government that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023 has viewed foreign missionaries with suspicion, barring them from remote areas. Rideout's abduction occurred amid broader sectarian violence and terrorism in the region, which some Christian activists and Republican lawmakers have characterized as persecution of Christians, though analysts note there is no clear evidence suggesting Christians are disproportionately targeted compared to other religious groups.
U.S. forces conducted surveillance missions from neighboring Nigeria, partly to locate Rideout, while assisting Nigerian forces in their fight against jihadists. The State Department's top Africa official made multiple trips to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in an effort to share intelligence and coordinate search efforts for Rideout. The Trump administration also reportedly lifted sanctions on Malian officials in April to improve intelligence sharing with the Alliance of Sahel States.
