American Christian missionary Kevin Rideout has been released after spending more than nine months in captivity following his abduction in Niger, his organisation, SIM International, has confirmed.

Rideout was kidnapped outside his home in Niamey, the Nigerien capital, in October 2025 by three armed men who reportedly took him to the Tillaberi region in western Niger, an area affected by militant activity.

SIM International said in a statement on Friday that Rideout was “in good health in the care of US officials.” The New York Times, which first reported his release, cited US officials as saying he was in FBI custody.

Details surrounding Rideout’s release, including who held him and how he was freed, were not immediately disclosed.

There had been concerns that the missionary could have been held by militants, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda-linked group active across parts of the Sahel.

Rideout, a pilot, had spent 19 years working as a Christian missionary in Niger and also served as a pilot for SIM International, which operates in more than 70 countries.

SIM International described his release as “incredibly good news” after months of uncertainty over his safety and wellbeing. The organisation said he would soon be reunited with his wife, children and extended family.

“Krista and the rest of Kevin’s family are profoundly grateful for the prayers offered on their behalf by people around the world throughout his captivity,” the organisation said, adding that the family had requested privacy as they reunited.

Rideout’s release comes amid continuing insecurity across Niger and the wider Sahel, where jihadist groups have carried out attacks and kidnappings against civilians and security personnel.

The United States had previously warned its citizens against travelling to Niger, citing heightened risks of terrorism, crime and civil unrest.