- Jeffery Woodke was released from captivity after being kidnapped in Africa in 2016
- The humanitarian worker will be reunited with his family after receiving a full medical screening
- French journalist Olivier Dubois freed after two years in captivity
A United States humanitarian worker, Jeffery Woodke, was freed after being held hostage for six years in Africa.
In a Twitter post, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced the news, thanking the government of Niger for bringing the American home. The official also expressed his gratitude to the people who worked tirelessly to secure Woodke's freedom from captivity.
Jeffery Woodke Release
American officials did not release additional information regarding the humanitarian worker's release. However, they noted that he was safe and in the hands of US government officials. While Woodke is still in Africa, he will soon be reunited with his family after receiving a full medical screening, said Kirby.
The national security adviser noted that for six long years, the US military, in cooperation with law enforcement and the intelligence community, spearheaded a multi-pronged effort to secure Woodke's release. As per USA Today, the American authorities also received assistance from French officials.
When Woodke was kidnapped, Kirby noted that no ransom was paid and that no concessions were made to the humanitarian worker's captors. He said that there were no prison swaps made to secure his release.
The individual was taken hostage after he was abducted from his home in Abalak, Niger, in October 2016. He was ambushed by several men who killed his guards and forced him at gunpoint to go into their truck which drove him north toward Mali's border.
While he was initially believed to have been taken by a West African affiliate of the Islamic State group, he was reportedly taken to Africa's vast Sahel region and was under the custody of JNIM, which is an affiliate of al-Qaqda in West Africa.
One source said that there was an indication that showed Woodke was straddling the border between Niger and Mali. The source noted that the humanitarian worker was being kept alive as something of a "bargaining chip," according to Fox News.
US Humanitarian Worker Held Hostage for More Than 6 Years
On Monday, American officials also said that Woodkey was not freed in Niger but in Mali's surrounding region. It was where French journalist Olivier Dubois was freed after being held captive for two years.
During an interview, Woodke's wife, Els, from McKinleyville, California, said that she was informed that her husband was in Niamey, the capital of Niger. Els, through a family spokesperson, released a statement saying that she was grateful for her husband's release.
Woodke also said he was pleased to be back in Niamey once more, in Niger, which he considers his second country. He noted that he only had one thing to say for now: to say hello to his family.
On the other hand, Dubois beamed as he was greeted by supporters, whom he spoke with, saying that he was fine but tired. The 48-year-old journalist said it was an amazing feeling to be free once more, said Yahoo News.