American missionary Kevin Rideout is released after being kidnapped in Niger in October, and is now in the care of U.S. officials, according to his organization SIM International and statements cited by multiple outlets. The reports say he is in good health and is expected to return to the United States soon after more than nine months in captivity.
The coverage also describes Rideout’s family reunification. Several outlets report he is being reunited with his wife and extended family as he prepares to go home. The New York Times adds that the release is a priority for the White House. Other accounts note the president’s involvement in communicating the outcome, while outlets differ on the exact phrasing of timing (some citing nine months, others referencing about 10 months). Despite these variations, the core details—kidnapping in Niger, release by captors, health status, and handover to U.S. care—are consistent across sources.
