Kevin Rideout, an American missionary kidnapped in Niger last October, has been released after more than 10 months of detention in the North African country, his organization announced Friday.
Mr. Rideout “is in good health in the care of US officials,” Serving In Mission International, a Christian organization, said in a statement.
“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, and in particular for the deep level of prayer and support offered by our SIM family,” the mission said.
Mr. Rideout, an airplane pilot for the organization who lived in Niger for 19 years, was kidnapped near his home in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Oct. 21, according to multiple reports.
President Trump celebrated his return on Truth Social, saying that the “wonderful Christian Missionary” is back in U.S. custody.
The president also slammed “Jihadi terrorists” for kidnapping Mr. Rideout, saying that the Niger region is the “epicenter of Islamist terrorism, where there have been more deadly attacks in the past year than anywhere else on Earth.
“Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME. Glad to have helped!”
No information has been released by the government about the group that abducted Mr. Rideout, but reports indicate it was connected to Islamic terror groups.
Since a military junta overthrew Niger’s democratically elected government in 2023, terrorist groups linked to al Qaeda and ISIS remain active, carrying out attacks in border zones and near the capital.
Reuters reported in March that Mr. Rideout was believed to be held in neighboring Mali by JNIM, an al Qaeda affiliate.
A day after Mr. Rideout was kidnapped, the U.S. Embassy in Niamey issued a security alert warning that American citizens “remain at a heightened risk of kidnapping throughout Niger, including in the capital city.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a Friday post that Mr. Rideout was “abducted by terrorists.”
“The FBI and our brilliant partners in the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell have worked tirelessly since last October when Kevin was abducted and today is a culmination of that work and the work of this administration,” he added.
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