“We pray for his safe release”: Catholic Priest on Abduction of Evangelical Christian Missionary in Niger

Niamey, 23 October, 2025 / 10:46 PM

A Catholic Priest in Burkina Faso has appealed for prayers for the safe release of an evangelical Christian missionary abducted in Niger on Tuesday, October 21.

Kevin Rideout, an American missionary, was abducted from his home in the country’s capital, Niamey by three unidentified, armed men suspected to be jihadists, a note shared with ACI Africa reads in part. 

The note further says the American missionary is “dedicated to training missionary aviation pilots serving evangelical, medical, and church-planting ministries, as well as providing emergency humanitarian air transport.”

“Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that the kidnappers headed toward the Tillabéri region,” the note further states.

In an interview with ACI Africa on Thursday, October 23, Fr. Etienne Tandamba, a member of the Clergy of Burkina Faso’s Fada N’Gourma Diocese, appealed for prayers for the release of Mr. Rideout.

“We pray for his safe release. Burkina Faso just like Niger faces insecurity challenges due to jihadists presence,” the Burkinabe Priest who is the Director of Communication of the Diocese of Fada N’Gourma Diocese told ACI Africa.

Mr. Rideout’s abduction in Niger comes amid worsening insecurity in the sahel region, where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have all fallen under military rule following coups in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively.

Mr. Rideout had lived in Niamey since 2010, where he worked as a pilot for the US-based Serving in Mission (SIM) organization.

In response to the abduction, the U.S Embassy in Niger issued a security alert on Wednesday, October 22,  saying, “American citizens remain at a heightened risk of kidnapping throughout Niger, including in the capital city.”

“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,” the Embassy says. 

It adds that “all restaurants and open-air markets are off-limits to U.S. Embassy personnel and family members.”