An American Christian missionary, Kevin Rideout, has been released after spending more than nine months in captivity following his abduction in Niger.
Rideout was reportedly seized by three armed men near his residence in Niamey, the Nigerien capital, in October 2025. He was subsequently taken towards the Tillaberi region in western Niger, an area plagued by militant activities.
His organisation, SIM International, confirmed his release in a statement on Friday, saying the missionary was in good health and receiving care from United States officials.
The circumstances surrounding his release remained unclear as of Friday, while authorities had yet to disclose details about his captors or the operation that secured his freedom.
The New York Times, citing US officials, reported that Rideout was in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There had earlier been fears that jihadist groups, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda-linked organisation, could have been responsible for his abduction.
Rideout, who is also a pilot, had spent 19 years working as a Christian missionary in Niger and served as a pilot with SIM International, a Christian organisation operating across more than 70 countries.
SIM International described his release as a major relief after months of uncertainty, saying his family was looking forward to being reunited with him.
“Krista and the rest of Kevin’s family are profoundly grateful for the prayers offered on their behalf by people around the world throughout his captivity,” the organisation said, while appealing for privacy as the family reconnects after the prolonged separation.
His freedom comes amid persistent insecurity in Niger and the wider Sahel, where jihadist groups have continued to carry out attacks and abductions.
Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have all faced years of militant violence, resulting in thousands of deaths and large-scale displacement.