US missionary and pilot kidnapped in Niger

An American missionary working for a Christian organisation has been kidnapped in Niger’s capital, Niamey, marking the latest in a troubling series of abductions of foreign nationals.

The US State Department confirmed to AFP that its embassy in Niamey is actively working to secure the safe release of the missionary. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association identified him as Kevin Rideout.

According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, Rideout served as a pilot for the evangelical organisation Serving in Mission (SIM) and was abducted by three unidentified men in the Plateau neighbourhood of Niamey while en route to the airport. The group then headed for the Tillabéri region near Niger’s western border, where fighters linked to Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda are known to operate.

A post on the social-media platform X by the journalist collective Wamaps stated that the missionary had been serving in Niger since 2010 and was seized only a few streets from the presidential palace. No group has yet publicly claimed responsibility, and no ransom has been announced.

The abduction comes amid a surge in kidnappings in Niger this year, which have already included four Moroccan truck drivers in January, two Chinese petroleum workers in February, and five Indian technicians in April.

These incidents follow the country’s July 2023 military coup, which led to the expulsion of US and French forces and the arrival of Russian mercenaries. The resulting security vacuum has allowed Islamist armed groups to expand and carry out attacks with greater impunity.

The Christian population in Niger is tiny, estimated at just 0.2 per cent of the total, and the country is ranked 28th on the Open Doors International 2025 World Watch List as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. Open Doors reports that “the presence of radical Islamist groups has led to frequent attacks and kidnappings, significantly limiting the freedom and safety of Christians”.

Historically, Niger has been relatively stable compared with its neighbours, but in recent years the spillover from conflict in Mali and Burkina Faso has dragged it into jihadist insurgency and kidnapping for ransom. The 2023 coup toppled the democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum, ending a decade of relative stability and triggering widespread international condemnation.

Western allies including the United States and France withdrew their military forces, paving the way for closer ties with Russia and its Wagner-linked mercenaries. Many analysts warn that the country has become increasingly unsafe for both local Christians and foreign nationals.

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