U.S. missionary kidnapped in Niger, reports say

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By Diana Chandler - Posted at Baptist Press:

Published October 23, 2025

NIAMEY, Niger (BP) – An evangelical Christian missionary from the U.S. was kidnapped late Oct. 21 in Niamey, Niger, less than 100 yards from the presidential palace, CBS News reported.

Several news outlets, including Crosswalk and the Long War Journal, identified the missionary as Kevin Rideout of Serving in Mission (SIM) International.

Rideout was taken from his home by three unidentified, armed men suspected to be jihadists, according to news reports. Baptist Press requested comments from SIM’s U.S. office in North Carolina, but had not received a reply by deadline.

The U.S. Embassy in Niger issued a country wide security alert Oct. 22 in response to the kidnapping.
“American citizens remain at a heightened risk of kidnapping throughout Niger, including in the capital city,” the embassy alerted Americans there. “Due to heightened concern about the threat of kidnapping, the Embassy has modified its security posture to require armored vehicles for all travel of Embassy personnel and family members, restricted movements of Embassy personnel and family members, and instituted a mandatory curfew and routine accountability. All restaurants and open-air markets are off-limits to U.S. Embassy personnel and family members.”

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