Kevin Rideout reunited with wife after release from Niger captivity

American Christian missionary Kevin Rideout has been reunited with his wife following his release from captivity in Niger. Rideout, 50, was abducted by armed men outside his home in Niamey on October 21, 2025. He had served as a missionary and pilot for Serving in Mission International (SIM) in Niger for 19 years.

Rideout spent more than nine months in captivity. While he indicated in a video that he had been held by the Islamic State in Mali, U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the specific group responsible for his detention. The FBI and the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell were involved in the efforts to secure his release.

President Donald Trump announced the release and shared photos of the reunion, noting that the couple would be invited to the White House. Sebastian Gorka, the president’s deputy assistant and senior director for counterterrorism, stated that Rideout expressed significant gratitude to the administration following his return to U.S. custody.