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5h ago

American Missionary Pilot Kevin Rideout Returned to U.S. Custody

Proof-of-life images showed he was healthy during a return that leaves open where or how his release occurred.

US missionary kidnapped in Niger released after nine months in captivity
NIAMEY, NIGER - MARCH 06: Only 42% of Nigerians have access to drinking water. The rest of the population goes directly to the source in rivers or natural stormwater reserves, and is exposed to the consumption of dirty water. on March 6, 2009 in Niamey, Niger. (Photo by Pascal Parrot/Getty Images)
A drone picture shows the main street of a suburb following the attack on the international airport in Niamey, Niger January 30, 2026.
A drone picture shows a suburb following the attack on the international airport in Niamey, Niger January 30, 2026.

Overview

  • U.S. officials confirmed late Thursday that Kevin Rideout, who was kidnapped in Niamey last October, is in U.S. custody and is being flown back to the United States under FBI care.
  • Officials said proof-of-life images provided in the past 48 hours showed Rideout in good health, but they spoke on background and withheld operational details.
  • It remains unclear where or how Rideout was freed and which armed group held him at the end of his captivity because he may have been moved recently.
  • Rideout was seized by three unidentified men in October and taken toward the Tillaberi region of western Niger, and he had worked there for about 19 years as a pilot for the missionary group Serving in Mission.
  • Finding Rideout had been a White House and U.S. Africa Command priority, with U.S. surveillance flown from Nigerian bases and earlier strikes including the May killing of an ISIS-linked leader tied by officials to kidnapping operations, and investigators will now focus on medical care, debriefing, and tracing his movements to inform future cooperation.