A Humboldt County aid worker held hostage in Niger for more than six years has been released, the White House announced Monday.
Jeffrey Woodke was conducting aid work in the northern city of Alabak, Niger in Oct., 2016 when he was kidnapped by Al Qaeda terrorists. Woodke was a longtime aid worker in the region working on behalf of Christian missionary groups for over 30 years.White House announced MondayJeffrey Woodke was conducting aid work in the northern city of Alabak, Niger in Oct., 2016 when he was kidnapped by Al Qaeda terrorists.
"First, I have to thank God, and after God, the Nigerian government, the American government and France," Woodke said in aWoodke is a graduate of Humboldt State University – now Cal Poly Humboldt – in Arcata, Calif., where his wife and children live in the nearby town of McKinleyville. Woodke’s family declined to comment at this time as they continue the final work of bringing him back to the US.
"I am grateful that he will soon be reunited with his wife, Els, and their family after spending more than six years held hostage by terrorists," President Biden said in a statement. "The United States extends our deep appreciation to the Nigerian government, which was a critical partner in helping to secure his release."
Woodke’s work involved helping to establish clean water resources, health and literacy trainings and natural resource management. In 2009, Woodke received an award from the United Nations for his work in disaster risk reduction, according to aSecretary of State Antony Blinken was in Niger just last week and thanked the Nigerien government for their help in securing Woodke’s release, as well as the release of French journalist Olivier Dubois who was kidnapped in Mali in 2021.
"As you know, I have no higher priority or focus than bringing home any unjustly detained American, wherever that is in the world," Blinken said. "We won't rest until they're all home and, like Jeffrey, reunited with their families."that I have read and agree
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US aid worker kidnapped in Niger released after 6 yearsWASHINGTON (AP) — An American aid worker who was kidnapped in the West African nation of Niger more than six years ago has been released from custody, the Biden administration said Monday. Jeffrey Woodke was kidnapped from his home in Abalak, Niger, in October 2016 by men who ambushed and killed his guards and forced him at gunpoint into their truck, where he was driven north toward Mali’s border.
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US aid worker kidnapped in Niger released after 6 years, Biden administration saysJeffrey Woodke was kidnapped from his home in Abalak, Niger, in October 2016 by men who ambushed and killed his guards and forced him at gunpoint into their truck.
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