Missionary Pilot Freed
American Missionary Pilot Kevin Rideout Freed After Nine Months in Captivity, Now in U.S. Custody
Key Points
Rideout was kidnapped outside his Niamey home by three unidentified men who reportedly headed toward the western Tillaberi region, an area where Islamist militants are active.
The U.S. military has been assisting neighboring Nigeria with training and surveillance missions to locate Rideout, and Nigeria permitted surveillance operations from its bases as part of the effort.
Reuters had previously reported that Rideout was believed to be held in Mali by the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), and U.S. officials had been seeking to resume intelligence gathering in Mali as part of the search.
FBI officials declined to comment on Rideout's release when contacted by CNN.
American missionary pilot Kevin Rideout has been freed after nine months in captivity in Niger, according to his organization SIM International. Rideout, 50, is in good health and in U.S. custody, with proof-of-life images confirming his condition as he makes his way home.
Rideout was kidnapped in October by three armed men outside his home in Niamey, Niger's capital. His release ends a nine-month ordeal that drew direct attention from the Trump White House and U.S. Africa Command, CBS News reports.
Three Armed Men Seized Rideout Outside His Niamey Home
The kidnapping happened in October when three unidentified men grabbed Rideout near his home in Niamey. The men reportedly moved him toward Niger's western Tillaberi region, according to AJC. That region is known as a hotspot for Islamist militant groups with ties to both al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Rideout had worked as a missionary and pilot for Serving in Mission, known as SIM, for 19 years. His case was serious enough that the U.S. government issued a travel warning for Niger shortly after his abduction. No armed group ever publicly claimed responsibility for taking him.
JNIM Suspected, But Final Captor Remains Unclear
Reuters had previously reported that Rideout was believed to be held in Mali by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, known as JNIM. That group is al-Qaeda's main affiliate in West Africa. U.S. officials were working to resume intelligence gathering in Mali as part of the search.
It is still not certain which group held Rideout at the end of his captivity. The exact chain of events leading to his release has not been confirmed. FBI officials declined to comment when contacted about the release, CBS News reported.
White House and Africa Command Drove the Search Effort
The Trump White House and U.S. Africa Command made finding Rideout a priority. As part of that effort, the U.S. military assisted Nigeria with surveillance missions to locate him. Nigeria allowed U.S. forces to run those operations from its military bases, according to WRAL.
The exact details of how and where Rideout was freed remain unclear. U.S. officials are still working to clarify the circumstances of the release. No ransom information has been made public.
Rideout Headed Home After 19 Years of Missionary Work
SIM International confirmed that Rideout is safe and expected to reunite with his family soon. The Independent reported that he is in good health and in the care of U.S. officials. SIM said it is grateful for his release but did not share further details about the recovery operation.
Rideout spent nearly two decades flying missions and doing humanitarian work across West Africa. His case drew rare public attention to the dangers missionaries and aid workers face in the Sahel region, where militant violence has surged in recent years.
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