An American aid worker held by Islamic extremists in West Africa for more than six years and a French journalist abducted almost two years ago were both freed on Monday.
Jeffery 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.
US officials said no ransom had been paid to free him as they praised Niger’s government for its role in his release.
The French government did not comment on how journalist Olivier Dubois’ freedom was won.
Officials in Niger unexpectedly announced on Monday morning that the two men had taken a special flight to the country’s capital but provided no further details.
The US said that the American hostage was not freed in Niger but in the surrounding region that includes Mali, where Dubois was abducted in 2021.
The press organisation Reporters Without Borders, which had long pushed for Dubois’ release, said that “we feel joy and immense relief,” and thanked French authorities.
“I’m gratified & relieved to see the release of U.S. hostage Jeff Woodke after over 6 years in captivity,” tweeted Biden administration national security adviser Jake Sullivan. “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.”
The two men were the highest-profile foreigners known to be held in the region, and their release was the largest since a French woman and two Italian men were all freed together in Mali back in October 2020.
Woodke’s wife, Els Woodke, said at a 2021 news conference in Washington that her husband’s captors had made a multi-million-dollar ransom demand for his release.
She said at the time that she believed her husband was in the custody of a West African affiliate of al-Qaida known as JNIM and pleaded with the group’s leader to release him.
In a statement through a family spokesman on Monday, Els Woodke said she had not yet had the chance to speak with her husband but had been told he was in good condition.
“She praises God for answering the prayers of Christians everywhere who have prayed for this outcome,” Woodke said.
