After more than nine months in the hands of his kidnappers in Niger, Christian missionary pilot Kevin Rideout is free and in the care of U.S. officials.
An American Christian missionary who was kidnapped in West Africa more than nine months ago has been released and is now in the care of U.S. officials, according to his mission organization and President Donald Trump.
Kevin Rideout, a missionary pilot with Serving in Mission (SIM) International, was kidnapped outside his home in Niamey, the capital of Niger, on Oct. 21, 2025. On Friday, Aug. 14, President Trump announced that Rideout had been returned to U.S. custody.
“I am proud to announce that Kevin Rideout, a wonderful Christian Missionary, is back in United States Custody,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Kevin was kidnapped by Jihadi terrorists in West Africa — The epicenter of Islamist terrorism, where there have been more deadly attacks in the past year than anywhere else on Earth,” President Trump wrote. “Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME. Glad to have helped!”
SIM International confirmed Rideout’s release Friday, saying he is in good health and will soon be reunited with his wife, Krista, his children and extended family.
“We are grateful to confirm that our good friend and brother in Christ, Kevin Rideout, has been released after over nine months in captivity,” SIM said in a statement. “Kevin is in good health in the care of US officials.”
The organization asked Christians to respect the family’s privacy as they reconnect after the lengthy separation and called on believers around the world to “join us in giving thanks to the Lord for this incredibly good news.”
A Missionary Taken From the Heart of Niger’s Capital
Rideout, 48, had spent years serving in Niger with his family. He worked as a pilot for SIM, helping transport missionaries, humanitarian workers and supplies in a country where access to remote communities can be difficult and increasingly dangerous.
On the night of his abduction, three unidentified armed men reportedly arrived at Rideout’s home in Niamey’s Château 1 neighborhood. The area was considered one of the safest parts of the capital and was located close to Niger’s presidential palace.
Rideout was reportedly taken toward western Niger, an area where militant groups affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaida operate.
At the time, no group publicly claimed responsibility for his kidnapping. U.S. and regional officials nevertheless suspected that Islamist militants or individuals connected to militant organizations were responsible.
The U.S. Embassy in Niamey issued a security warning shortly after Rideout’s disappearance, saying American citizens faced a heightened risk of kidnapping throughout Niger, including in the capital.
A Nine-Month Wait for His Family
For Rideout’s family and fellow missionaries, the months that followed were marked by uncertainty.
SIM and Christian leaders around the world repeatedly called for prayer for Rideout and his family. His wife, Krista, and their children remained separated from him throughout his captivity.
SIM said Friday that Rideout’s family is “profoundly grateful” for the prayers offered by people around the world during his captivity, particularly the support of the SIM family.
The organization’s statement offered no details about Rideout’s treatment while in captivity or the circumstances surrounding his release.
Those details may remain private as Rideout reunites with his family and receives care following more than nine months in captivity.
Who Held Rideout?
The circumstances of the kidnapping and release remain only partly known.
Trump identified Rideout’s captors as “Jihadi terrorists.” Earlier reporting had pointed to the Islamic State Sahel Province or criminals associated with the group, based in part on the location where Rideout’s phone was last detected and the militant activity in the region.
Reuters reported Friday that sources now say Rideout was held by an Islamic State affiliate operating in the Sahel. The news agency also reported that authorities in eastern Libya played a role in securing his release and that Rideout was eventually taken to Libya before being placed in U.S. custody.
However, accounts differ regarding precisely how he was freed.
Four sources cited by Reuters said a deal was brokered, with one source claiming a ransom was paid. A senior source within the Libyan National Army gave a different account, saying an elite commando unit conducted a raid into Mali to free Rideout.
Reuters said it was unable to independently confirm the Libyan military’s account.
The U.S. State Department declined to comment to Reuters about the reported Libyan involvement.
Niger Has Become a Dangerous Front in the Sahel
Rideout’s kidnapping highlights the increasingly dangerous environment facing Christians, missionaries and other foreign workers in the African Sahel.
Niger lies at the center of a region stretching across the southern edge of the Sahara where Islamic State- and al-Qaida-linked groups have expanded their operations.
The country’s security situation deteriorated significantly following a military coup in 2023. The junta that took power pushed out Western military partners, including U.S. forces, and strengthened ties with Russia. Meanwhile, jihadist violence has continued to spread across Niger and neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso.
Christianity represents a small minority in Niger, where more than 98% of the population is Muslim. Christian missionaries have continued serving communities through evangelism, medical care, education, aviation and humanitarian work despite the growing security threats.
Rideout was one of those missionaries.
His work included flying personnel and supplies to communities that could otherwise be extremely difficult to reach. Fellow missionaries described him as a professional pilot committed to serving people in remote parts of the country.
Giving Thanks to the Lord
Rideout’s release comes after months in which his whereabouts were unknown and his family and fellow Christians waited for news.
Now that he is safely in U.S. custody and reported to be in good health, the immediate focus is on bringing him home and allowing his family to begin the process of reconnecting.
For the Christian community that prayed for him throughout his captivity, the news is being received not simply as a diplomatic or military development, but as an answer to prayer.
SIM International put its response plainly:
“Please join us in giving thanks to the Lord for this incredibly good news.”
For Rideout’s family, after more than nine months of uncertainty, the long-awaited answer is finally coming home.
