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Niger (MNN) — American citizen and missionary pilot Kevin Rideout was abducted by armed men in the capital of Niger on Tuesday, October 21. According to a report from Reuters, Rideout works with the evangelical missions agency called Serving in Mission (known as SIM International).

“According to local sources, three armed men kidnapped him [Rideout], and since then, we haven’t heard about that more,” says Illia Djadi. He serves with Open Doors International as the Senior Analyst for Freedom of Religion and Belief in Africa. “So far, no group has claimed the kidnapping.”

Niger

Portrait of a Songhai chief of a village in southwestern Niger. (Photo courtesy of IMB)

But there are ways to make an educated guess. Niger endures rising unrest and Islamic insurgencies. 

“Niger is part of this group of countries [that are] the most affected by Islamic insurgency active in the Sahel or West African region,” says Djadi, who is himself from Niger.  

“That’s the area [Central Sahel] now all analysts and observers agree has become the new epicenter of jihad or terrorism in sub-Saharan Africa, because that’s the only area where we have al-Qaeda affiliate and Islamic State affiliates operating.” 

Authorities believe that Rideout’s kidnappers took him toward western Niger, “the area where an al-Qaeda affiliate is mainly active,” says Djadi.

The U.S. State Department is aware of these events. In a statement to Fox News, a State Department spokesperson said, “It is a top priority for the Trump Administration to look after the safety of every American, and we are seeing efforts from across the U.S. Government to support the recovery and safe return of this U.S. citizen.”

It’s now the business of Christians to pray. Ask God for a miraculous release but also for endurance and faithful witness for Rideout in unimaginable circumstances. Pray for Niger’s security as well. Rideout is one of at least eight foreign nationals kidnapped there this year. 

“We pray for an urgent and safe release. We pray for his family. We pray for the community of missionary and expat [persons] in Niger,” says Djadi. 

Pray also for strength for the Church in Niger, which is deeply affected by Islamic insurgency.

(Photo courtesy of Alek Burley/Unsplash)

“The church in Niger is a tiny minority. It’s only 1 percent of the population. In the western part of the country, hundreds of Christians have been displaced because the predominantly Christian community in that area has been attacked. They got the warning to convert [to Islam] or to go, so they prefer to go,” says Djadi.

“Continue to pray and to pay attention [to] what is happening in Niger, in central Sahel, and particularly also in sub-Saharan Africa.”

 

Header image: Close-up of a world map highlighting a section of the Sahel region. (Stock photo courtesy of MART PRODUCTION via Pexels)