JEFF Woodke, an American aid worker who was held hostage for over six years, has been released, officials and his family said.
In a stunning turn of events the former captive, who was kidnapped on Oct 14, 2016 from his home in the northern city of Abalak, Niger, was released.
Woodke, 62, and French journalist Olivier Dubois, whose release was also announced Monday, were spotted together at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, NBC News reported.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether their releases might have been connected.
It’s believed that Woodke was taken by an ISIS-connected group before he was turned over to Al Qaeda affiliates in neighboring Mali, his family has said.
“I’m gratified & relieved to see the release of U.S. hostage Jeff Woodke after over 6 years in captivity,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. “The U.S. thanks Niger for its help in bringing him home to all who miss & love him. I thank so many across our government who’ve worked tirelessly toward securing his freedom.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Roger Carstens, the U.S. special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, and other department officials whose yearslong work on Woodke’s plight finally came “to fruition today.”
Dubois, a freelancer, went missing on April 8, 2021, in the Malian region of Gao, while seeking an interview with the local leader of an Al-Qaeda affiliated group.
