Kevin Rideout, an American missionary pilot with the mission organization SIM, was released in mid-August after nine months in captivity following his kidnapping near his home in Niamey, Niger, on October 21, 2025. SIM announced his release in a statement, saying Rideout is in good health and in the care of U.S. officials. He had lived and served in Niger for nineteen years.
No armed group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Niger and neighboring Mali have seen a sharp rise in kidnappings of foreigners in recent years, with roughly 30 taken last year compared to four in 2024. Rideout's release follows months of coordination between his mission organization and U.S. officials.