persecution
Kidnapped U.S. Missionary Pilot Freed in Niger
Summary by Christgiving Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: commsmanager , as published by International Christian Concern
· August 17, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: International Christian Concern · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by Christgiving Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page commsmanager, as published by International Christian Concern Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 17, 2026 Indexed here Aug 17, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Rideout has worked as a missionary in Niger for 19 years, serving alongside his family.
A local missionary pilot has been freed after nine months in captivity. Kevin Rideout, who is based in Niamey, Niger, was kidnapped by three armed men from outside his home. He has been released and is in the care of US officials.
Rideout has worked as a missionary in Niger for 19 years, serving alongside his family. He has flown support missions throughout West Africa, providing supplies. Further details about his release and the group responsible for his kidnapping are not available, but more information can be found through Serving In Mission USA or other news sources.
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Category: persecution ·
Published: August 17, 2026 ·
Source: International Christian Concern ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A local missionary pilot has been freed after nine months in captivity. Kevin Rideout, who is based in Niamey, Niger, was kidnapped by three armed men from outside his home. He has been released and…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 17, 2026 by International Christian Concern and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by commsmanager at International Christian Concern. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more persecution coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .