The Liberty Daily 
(WND)—President Donald Trump, whose agenda to enable the return to America of United States citizens kidnapped or jailed by overseas groups often is overlooked, now has announced the pending return of Kevin Rideout, a missionary working in West Africa when he was abducted apparently by radical Islamists.
Trump confirmed, “I am proud to announce that Kevin Rideout, a wonderful Christian Missionary, is back in United States Custody. Kevin was kidnapped by Jihadi terrorists in West Africa — The epicenter of Islamist terrorism, where there have been more deadly attacks in the past year than anywhere else on Earth. Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME. Glad to have helped! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Trump only days earlier confirmed the release from Russia of Robert Gilman, 32, a U.S. Marine imprisoned in 2022.
Others on Trump’s rescued list include Mark Fogel, who was arrested and imprisoned in Moscow in 2021, Keith Siegel, an American-Israeli held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for around 16 months, Anastasia Nuhfer, “an American who was being held in a Belarusian prison, and six Americans who had been detained in Venezuela.
Fox News reported Rideout had been abducted in Niger.
He works with the Christian missionary organization SIM International, which said, “We are grateful to confirm that our good friend and brother in Christ, Kevin Rideout, has been released after over nine months in captivity.”
Rideout was kidnapped near his home in Niger’s capital Niamey on Oct. 21, 2025, the report said.
SIM confirmed he was turned over to the care of U.S. officials and is in good health.
Rideout, a pilot for the North Carolina-based SIM, “will soon be reunited with Krista, his children, and his extended family,” SIM said, adding, “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, and in particular for the deep level of prayer and support offered by our SIM family.”
Fox reported information about his abductors wasn’t available, although “Niger has been a hotbed for Islamic terrorism since a military junta overthrew the democratically elected government in 2023.”
The report said Islamic groups, particularly the ISIS-affiliated Islamic State Sahel Province and the al Qaeda-affiliated JNIM, have grown in strength and influence in the region since the takeover.
