NIAMEY, Niger – In a brazen attack that underscores the spreading insecurity in West Africa’s Sahel region, American missionary Kevin Rideout was kidnapped by armed assailants in Niamey, the capital of the Republic of Niger, according to local sources.

The abduction occurred last night, with preliminary reports indicating that a group of unknown armed men seized Rideout from his residence or vicinity. The missionary was working in Niger with the international faith-based organization SIM (Serving In Mission). For his work, he was operating through the group’s aviation and logistics partner, Missionary Flights Global (MFG), which supports humanitarian and religious efforts across the region.

Local security forces immediately launched an investigation following the incident. Early findings suggest the kidnappers successfully escaped the capital and are likely heading towards the Tillabéri region, a vast and unstable area in western Niger. This region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, is known as a hotspot for militant activity, including groups affiliated with both ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

The Tillabéri region has been under a state of emergency for years due to frequent attacks on both security forces and civilians. The incident is particularly alarming as it represents a significant breach of security in Niamey, which has traditionally been considered more secure than the nation’s restive border areas. The kidnapping of a foreign national in the heart of the capital will likely raise serious questions about the capability of security forces to protect urban centers.

The abduction occurs during a period of heightened political and security transition for Niger, which is currently governed by a military junta following a coup in July 2023. The new authorities have made security a central tenet of their governance, but this event presents a direct challenge to their control.

SIM International, a Christian nonprofit with a long history in Africa, has operations focused on healthcare, education, and development across the continent. The organization has not yet released an official statement. U.S. officials in Niger are presumed to be engaged with local authorities, though no details have been confirmed.

As the search intensifies in the Tillabéri region, the international community and local citizens alike await further developments, hoping for the safe return of Kevin Rideout while grappling with the unsettling reality of terrorism’s reach into the heart of a capital city.