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Kevin Rideout reunites with wife. Photo credit: Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X

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He had worked in Niger for 19 years with SIM International, a Christian organisation operating in more than 70 countries.

US missionary Kevin Rideout is preparing to return home after spending more than nine months in captivity in Niger, President Donald Trump has announced.

Trump said Rideout had reunited with his wife, Krista, and would soon fly back to the United States.

The President also claimed that Rideout was the 110th captive American freed since the beginning of his second term, adding that he hoped to welcome the couple to the White House.

SIM International confirmed that Rideout was in good health and receiving care from US officials following his release.

Rideout, a Christian missionary and pilot, was abducted by three armed men outside his home in Niamey on October 21, 2025.

He had worked in Niger for 19 years with SIM International, a Christian organisation operating in more than 70 countries.

No armed group claimed responsibility for the abduction, despite militant organisations linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State operating across parts of Niger and the wider Sahel.

The identities of Rideout’s captors and the circumstances surrounding his release remain unclear.

His organisation appealed for privacy as he reconnects with his wife, children and extended family.