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An American missionary has been abducted in Niamey, Niger, and the news should set off alarms in every patriotic household. Reports say the man — a pilot working with the evangelical agency Serving in Mission — was seized in the capital and likely driven out of town by armed men in a Toyota Corolla, a brazen act that underscores the collapse of basic security where Americans live and serve. The State Department and the U.S. Embassy have acknowledged the situation and say they are working with local authorities to bring him home.
Make no mistake: this is not an isolated criminal act but the predictable result of strategic retreat and chaos across the Sahel. Since Niger’s 2023 coup and the purge of Western partners, jihadist groups have been emboldened and kidnappings have become a lucrative business that targets Westerners, aid workers, and missionaries who still show up to do God’s work. Americans shouldn’t be surprised that violent extremists feel free to operate near the presidential palace while the international community dithers.
The U.S. Embassy in Niamey immediately raised its threat posture after the abduction, ordering armored vehicles for personnel and warning citizens to avoid public places — an admission that diplomacy without security is just wishful thinking. This administration and Congress must stop treating overseas deployments and counterterrorism presence as optional extras; when we cede ground to malign actors, the consequences are American lives at risk. The current rescue effort should be as muscular and public as necessary to deter future attacks.
For conservatives who believe in American strength and Christian charity, there’s a painful anger in watching missionaries targeted for their faith while bureaucrats issue tepid statements. The kidnapped pilot was reportedly taken toward areas where affiliates of the Islamic State operate, a terrifying scenario that should force immediate, whole-of-government action to locate and recover him. Silence or moral relativism from Washington is not an answer; every American taken by extremists warrants an all-out response.
The story hits home because Tennessee missionary Josh Sullivan — who survived a terrifying abduction in South Africa earlier this year and was miraculously rescued — has been urging media and policymakers not to let incidents like this fade from the headlines. Sullivan’s experience proves two truths conservatives have long said: evil exists in the world, and showing up matters in the fight against it; the least our government can do is back those who serve with decisive support and not hollow sentiments. We should listen to men like Sullivan and keep the pressure on until every American is safely returned.
This moment calls for clarity and spine. Protecting Americans abroad, especially those on missionary and humanitarian missions, is not a luxury — it is a core duty of our republic and a reflection of our values at home. If Washington truly values faith, charity, and American lives, it will act swiftly, visibly, and forcefully to recover the kidnapped missionary and to restore deterrence in the Sahel.
Pray for the man in Niger and for his family, but do not rely on prayers alone to bring him back. Demand accountability from leaders who allowed the security situation to decay, insist on a real strategy to push back ISIS affiliates, and make it plain that America will not be a safe target for savages. The brave Americans who take the Gospel to dangerous places deserve better than platitudes — they deserve a nation that will fight to bring them home.
