Kevin Rideout, a Christian missionary from the United States, has been released after being kidnapped in Niger's capital, Niamey, approximately ten months ago. His mission organization, SIM International, announced on August 14, 2026, that he is in good health and under the care of U.S. officials. Rideout was abducted outside his home on October 21, 2025, by three armed individuals and taken to the Tillabéri region, which is known for militant activity.
SIM International stated that Rideout will soon reunite with his family. He had been a missionary in Niger for 19 years and worked as a pilot for the organization, which operates in over 70 countries. His release was not due to a military operation but was achieved through other means, according to a U.S. official. The official indicated that U.S. military pressure on the Islamic State in Nigeria may have influenced the kidnappers' decision to release him.
Rideout was kidnapped near the presidential palace in Niamey, where ousted President Mohamed Bazoum has been held since a coup in July 2023. The coup led to General Abdourahamane Tiani taking power, amid ongoing violence and abductions in the region.