WASHINGTON, DC – The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation welcomes the news that American humanitarian aid worker Jeff Woodke has been released from captivity in West Africa and is returning to the United States.
Mr. Woodke was abducted by militants in October 2016 and has been held as a hostage since. Prior to his capture, Mr. Woodke spent 32 years serving the people of Niger as a minister and aid worker.
“After over six years in captivity, Jeff is finally coming home to his wife Els and his beloved family,” said James W. Foley Legacy Foundation Founder and President Diane Foley. “We are so deeply grateful for the skilled and persistent negotiation by our US government, international partners and third party experts like Ali Soufan involved in securing his release and safe passage home. As we celebrate Jeff’s release, we continue to urge the U.S. government to prioritize the return of all Americans who are being held hostage or unjustly detained overseas.”
