United States President Donald Trump has confirmed the release of American Christian missionary and pilot, Kevin Rideout, who spent more than nine months in captivity in Niger.
Trump disclosed this in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, saying Rideout had been reunited with his wife, Krista, and was preparing to return to the United States.
“I am happy to reveal that former hostage Kevin Rideout is getting ready to fly home to the United States after having been reunited with his beautiful wife, Krista,” Trump stated.
The US President described Rideout’s release as the 110th liberation of a captive American since he began his second term in office.
He added, “I look forward to seeing Kevin and Krista at the White House soon!”
Rideout, who works with the Christian missionary organisation, SIM International, was abducted outside his home in Niamey, Niger, in October 2025.
According to SIM International, the missionary was in good health and had been placed under the care of US officials following his release.
Reports indicated that three armed men abducted Rideout and took him to the Tillaberi region of western Niger, an area that has witnessed militant activities.
The circumstances surrounding his release, including the identities of his abductors and how his freedom was secured, had not been made public as of Sunday.
Rideout had spent 19 years working in Niger and served as a pilot for SIM International, which operates Christian missionary activities in more than 70 countries.
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