An American missionary and pilot, identified as Kevin Rideout, has been kidnapped in Niger’s capital, Niamey, in what officials are calling one of the most serious abductions of a US national in the Sahel this year. According to AFP, Rideout, a 50-year-old serving with the evangelical group Serving in Mission (SIM), was seized by three unidentified men late Tuesday night while travelling through the Plateau district, near the capital’s main airport.

A diplomatic source told AFP that Rideout was “already en route to the border with Mali” within hours of the kidnapping. Another diplomat cited by Reuters confirmed that Rideout worked as a pilot for SIM, an organisation that describes itself as a “global mission family serving in 70 countries” with a focus on outreach to communities with few Christians.

US Embassy Confirms Efforts to Secure Release

A State Department spokesperson told AFP that the US Embassy in Niamey was “doing everything possible” to ensure Rideout’s safe return, but declined to provide operational details “for security reasons.” No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and it remains unclear whether a ransom demand has been made.

Local journalists from Wamaps, a West African press collective, said Rideout had worked in Niger since 2010 and was abducted “just a few streets from the presidential palace.” The group added that security forces believe the kidnappers are likely affiliated with ISIL or al-Qaeda-linked cells operating in Niger’s western Tillaberi region.

Kidnapping Highlights Growing Threat Amid Niger’s Instability

The incident comes amid an alarming rise in kidnappings of foreign nationals in Niger since the July 2023 military coup, which ousted the country’s elected government. In recent months, ISIL-linked groups have been blamed for abductions of a Swiss aid worker, an Austrian national, and several Chinese and Indian contractors, according to AFP.

Following the coup, US and French troops were expelled as Niger turned toward Russian mercenaries for security support. Analysts warn that the vacuum has emboldened militants and criminal networks. Former US Africa Command chief Gen. Michael Langley told reporters in May that the withdrawal “removed America’s ability to monitor terrorist groups closely,” complicating counterterrorism operations in the region.