Niger: American Missionary Believed Kidnapped by Islamic Terrorists

An American missionary has been kidnapped in the African country of Niger. The man was reportedly abducted during the night of October 21-22 by three armed men from his residence in the capital city of Niamey. It is suspected that the kidnappers are part of an Islamic terror group, possibly affiliated with Al Qaida or ISIS.

The article below from the French-language newspaper Actu Niger is translated by Fousesquawk.

American national kidnapped from a residential quarter

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 16:32

During the night from Tuesday, 21 October to Wednesday, 22 October, an American national was kidnapped from his residence in the Château 1 quarter in the center of the capital of Niger. The man, identified as Kevin R., a humanitarian pilot, aged 48, was working for an Evangelical mission operating in Niger. According to initial information gathered by security sources, at about 2:30 am, three armed men broke into the pilot’s residence, located only a few hundred meters from the presidential palace and the Grand Hotel Bravia-a zone reputed to be among the most secure in the country. The attackers abducted their victim before disappearing without leaving a trace. 

The motivations and the identity of the kidnappers remain unknown. No claim of responsibility has been made as of now. The Niger security forces were immediately deployed, while the services charged with the protection of foreign nationals are coordinating the searches. A diplomatic source suggests the possibility that the kidnappers are headed to the border with Mali, a zone known for the presence of armed groups and traffickers.

The kidnapped man is reportedly affiliated with the Evangelical Christian organization, SIM (International Missionary Society), active for several years in Niger. The NGO is involved notably in the domains of health, education, and access to potable water, often in vulnerable regions.

This kidnapping in the very heart of Niamey brings to mind a painful memory: That of the two young Frenchmen kidnapped in 2011 from the Le Toulousain restaurant, also in the capital, by elements of Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI). The two hostages were killed during a rescue operation.

In these past years, kidnappings of foreigners have multiplied in Niger, particularly in the north and west of the country. Last April, a Swiss woman and an Austrian woman were captured at Agadez, while 5 Indian travelers were taken hostage in the Tillaberi region. These areas are regularly targeted by groups tied to the Islamic State in Sahel (EIS) or the Group of Support to Islam and Muslims (GSIM).

-Ibrahim Issa (actuniger.com)