Archive · 14 Aug 2026
American missionary kidnapped in Niger released after nine months
A man named Kevin Rideout was taken by bad people in the country of Niger.
He worked as a pilot, flying planes to help people for a Christian group called SIM.
Bad people grabbed him while he was on his way to the airport.
He was kept away from his family for more than nine months.
Now there is wonderful news: he has been set free!
He is in good health and being looked after by officials from the United States.
He is now on his way back home to America.
Nobody knows exactly how or where he was released.
The people who may have taken him are dangerous groups in that part of the world.
His friends at SIM are very happy and thankful that he is safe.
American missionary pilot Kevin Rideout was released after more than nine months in captivity in Niger.
Serving In Mission (SIM), the Christian organization Rideout worked for, confirmed he is in good health and in the care of U.S. officials.
Rideout is on his way to the United States and was with officials from the U.S. FBI, according to the New York Times, which first reported the news on Thursday.
He was kidnapped in Niger's capital Niamey in October last year by three unidentified men as he headed to the airport.
Details of how and where Rideout was released remain unclear, and it is not known which group was holding him at the end of his captivity.
- Who
- Kevin Rideout, an American missionary pilot working for the Christian organization Serving In Mission (SIM), was the kidnapped person.
- What
- He was released after more than nine months in captivity and is now in the care of U.S. officials, on his way back to the United States.
- When
- He was kidnapped in October last year (2025) in Niamey; the New York Times first reported his release on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
- Where
- He was kidnapped in Niger's capital Niamey, with his kidnappers heading toward the western Tillaberi region; he was believed at one point to be held in Mali.
- Why
- He was seized by three unidentified men as he headed to the airport, in a region where Islamist militants linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda are active.
- Name
- Kevin Rideout
- Role
- American missionary pilot for Serving In Mission (SIM)
- Kidnapped
- Niamey, Niger's capital, in October last year (2025), by three unidentified men
- Captivity
- Over nine months
- Status
- Released; in good health and in the care of U.S. officials
- Return
- On his way to the United States, accompanied by U.S. FBI officials (per the New York Times)
- Suspected captors
- Initially believed held in Mali by al Qaeda affiliate JNIM (Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin); group holding him at the end unclear
- First report
- The New York Times on Thursday; SIM confirmed the release on Friday