An American missionary pilot, Kevin Rideout, was abducted last week from his home in Niamey, Niger, by armed jihadists believed to be affiliated with Islamist extremist groups operating in the region. The 48-year-old pilot, who serves with Serving in Mission (SIM) and Concilium, was taken less than 100 yards from the presidential palace. His phone’s last known signal placed him near an area notorious for terrorist activity tied to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. U.S. officials confirmed they are working with local authorities to locate and secure Rideout’s release.

Rideout and his brother have long served as missionary pilots, providing critical transport and humanitarian aid across West Africa. His kidnapping comes amid worsening Christian persecution in Niger following the 2023 military coup that empowered Islamic extremists. Analysts warn that abductions of Western missionaries and aid workers have become increasingly common, mirroring the case of Jeff Woodke, another American missionary freed from captivity last year. The abduction of Rideout highlights both the escalating spiritual and physical warfare faced by believers in the region — a sobering reminder that the cost of the Gospel in these last days remains high.

SOURCE: ICC