American Aid Worker Abducted See What Happened to the Hero Who Sacrificed Everything for Others

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French journalist Olivier Dubois, left, and American aid worker Jeffery Woodke, center, arrive Monday at the VIP lounge at the airport in Niamey, Niger. (AP Photo/Judith Besnard)

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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 Monday, authorities said.

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What You Need To Know Authorities say an American aid worker and a French journalist held by Islamic extremists have been freed in West Africa Jeffery Woodke was kidnapped from his home at gunpoint in Niger in October 2016 A senior administration official who briefed reporters Monday on Woodke's release described the action as the culmination of years of efforts, but declined to say what exactly led to him being freed from captivity French journalist Olivier Dubois arrived in Niger's capital on Monday morning alongside Woodke, where they were greeted by the country's interior minister

They were brought together to Niger's capital. U.S. officials said no ransom had been paid for aid worker Jeffery Woodke and praised Niger's government for helping his release. The French government did not comment on how journalist Olivier Dubois' freedom was won.

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a visit to Niger, where he announced $150 million in direct assistance to the Sahel region.

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I'm very pleased we are now seeing that come to fruition today, Blinken said, thanking his team, and Niger, for their efforts. We won't rest until they're all home, like Jeffery reunited with their families.

Officials in Niger unexpectedly announced Monday morning that the two men had taken a special flight to the country's capital but provided no details. U.S. officials said that the American hostage was not freed in Niger but in the surrounding region that includes Mali, where Dubois was abducted in 2021.

Both appeared to be physically well when they met briefly with a small group of journalists in Niamey. Dubois smiled broadly as he was greeted by well-wishers, saying he was tired but otherwise fine.

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It's amazing for me to be here, to be free, the 48-year-old journalist said. I didn't expect it at all. I would like to pay tribute to Niger, and to its knowledge of these types of delicate missions. And to pay tribute to France and to all those who made it possible to be here today.

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 freed together in Mali back in October 2020.

The press organization Reporters Without Borders, which had long pushed for Dubois' release, said that we feel joy and immense relief, and thanked French authorities.

American Aid Worker Jeffery Woodke Kidnapped By Suspected Islamists In Niger

Els Woodke, released a statement through a family spokesman saying she had not yet spoken with her husband but had been told he was in good condition.

Woodke had been 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.

At a 2021 news conference in Washington, Els Woodke said she believed that her husband was being held by an al-Qaida-linked militant group known as JNIM and said her husband's captors had made a multi-million-dollar ransom demand for his release.

Us Aid Worker And French Journalist Freed In West Africa

Dubois also was being held by JNIM militants, though it was unclear how much time the two foreign hostages had spent in captivity together, said Laith Alkhouri, CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory.

While it remains unclear what circumstances led to the release of the hostages, it might not be a coincidence that their freedom came as Blinken wrapped up his visit to Niger and earmarked millions of dollars in aid, some of which could have oiled the Niger government to use its intelligence apparatus in negotiating their release, Alkhouri said.

Groups have long abducted hostages for ransom in the Sahel, the vast, semi-arid expanse below the Sahara Desert. Previously released captives have described being moved frequently from site to site in harrowing conditions amid sweltering temperatures. The extremists aim to use millions in ransom to fund their jihadi operations, though not all countries engage in payment negotiations.

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The Biden administration official did not identify the specific group believed responsible for keeping Woodke in captivity, saying a number of overlapping networks in operated in that part of West Africa.

On Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that two of its employees were freed in Mali. The organization would not disclose the employees' identities or the circumstances of the abduction, and it could not be confirmed if there was any connection to the other hostages whose release was announced the same day.

At least 25 foreigners and untold numbers of locals have been kidnapped in the Sahel since 2015, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. In 2020, Swiss authorities said Christian missionary Beatrice Stoeckli was killed by her militant captors.

American Aid Worker Jeff Woodke, Kidnapped In West Africa, Is Freed

Militants with links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are believed to still be holding a number of captives, including a German priest. The Rev. Hans-Joachim Lohre was preparing to celebrate Mass in Mali's capital when he was abducted last November.Jeff Woodke and Olivier Dubois are freed after being kidnapped in West Africa Jeff Woodke, an American missionary and humanitarian aid worker, was kidnapped by militants in 2016. Olivier Dubois, who was a correspondent for French news outlets, was kidnapped in 2021.

French journalist Olivier Dubois left, and Jeffery Woodke, right, are seen as they arrive at the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey on Monday. Souleymane AG Anara/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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French journalist Olivier Dubois left, and Jeffery Woodke, right, are seen as they arrive at the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey on Monday.

Jeffery Woodke, An American Aid Worker Kidnapped More Than Six Years Ago From Niger, Has Been Released From Captivity

Jeff Woodke, an American aid worker who was held hostage by militants in Niger for more than six years, has been released, along with French journalist Olivier Dubois, who was kidnapped by militants in 2021 in neighboring Mali.

Woodke and Dubois appeared together before reporters in Niger's capital Niamey on Monday. Niger Interior Minister Hamadou Souley said their release came after several months of efforts by Nigerien authorities, the BBC reported.

Speaking in Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked the government of Niger, along with members of the State Department, for their tireless efforts to free Woodke. Blinken did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the release.

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Els has not yet heard from Jeff but she has been told he is in good condition, the group, which is managed by Woodke's friends and family, wrote in a statement on Monday morning.

She has expressed her profound thanks to the many people in governments and others around the world who have worked so hard to see this result, the group added.

A video grab made on October 18, 2016 shows U.S. aid worker Jeffery Woodke during a ceremony to introduce his NGO in Abalak, two days before he was captured. Stringer/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

American Aid Worker Kidnapped In Niger

A video grab made on October 18, 2016 shows U.S. aid worker Jeffery Woodke during a ceremony to introduce his NGO in Abalak, two days before he was captured.

Woodke, who is originally from California, served as a missionary and a humanitarian aid worker in Niger for over 30 years. In Oct. 2016, a group of men drove to Woodke's home and held him at gunpoint, his wife said at a press conference in 2021. The men, believed to be militants, forced Woodke into a trunk and drove toward the border of Mali.

I have no higher priority or focus than bringing home any unjustly detained American in the world, Blinken said on Monday morning. We won't rest until they are all home and like Jeff, reunited with their families.

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Blinken, who traveled to Niger as part of his Africa tour, announced last Thursday that the U.S. will provide $150 million in humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable populations in Niger and throughout the Sahel region.

Dubois, who was a correspondent for French news outlets, was kidnapped in Gao, Mali, in April 2021 by a group affiliated with al-Qaida, the Committee to Protect Journalists previously reported.

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter that Dubois was in good health, describing it a great relief for his family, fellow journalists and the country.

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Dubois told reporters it was amazing for me to be here, to be free, adding, I feel tired, but I'm fine, according to the BBC.

How

I want to pay tribute to Niger for its skills in this delicate mission and pay tribute to France, to all those who have helped me to be here today, he said.An American held hostage in West Africa for more than six years has been released, in a stunning turn of events that left the former captive thrilled to be free, officials and his family said Monday.

Aid worker Jeff Woodke, who is

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