Freed Hostage Recounts Harrowing Ordeal in Africa and Frustrations with US Response

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Jeff Woodke, an American missionary held captive in Niger for over six years, has finally been released from his harrowing ordeal. Woodke, now 62, vividly remembers the chilling moment when Islamic extremists arrived at his home under the cover of evening, gunning down the guards and forcibly abducting him. In captivity, he endured beatings, hours in chains, and relentless pressure to convert to Islam, even resorting to self-imposed hunger strikes.

Reflecting on his time in captivity, Woodke describes it as a living hell, compounded by the agonizing thought that his family might be suffering as well. Over time, his desperation grew to the point where he believed death would be preferable to continuing to inflict suffering on his loved ones. However, the Woodkes’ ordeal was further compounded by frustrating interactions with the US government, which they felt withheld crucial information about negotiations with the captors and provided inadequate assistance and guidance regarding fundraising for a ransom.

Els Woodke, Jeff’s wife, expressed her frustration during a Zoom call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, highlighting the inequities she perceived in the ransom process that favored the wealthy. In her impassioned plea, she questioned why the rich could secure their loved ones’ freedom while the poor were left helpless. These frustrations were shared by the Woodkes in a joint interview with The Big Big News, where they revealed previously unreported details about Jeff’s captivity, their conversations with US officials, and the challenges he faces in reintegrating into society.

While the US government has remained tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding Jeff Woodke’s release, he was freed alongside a French journalist by French forces. Woodke, who had been targeted due to his work as a missionary and aid worker, took precautions over his three decades in the area, maintaining contact with the State Department and local embassy about security risks. Despite these precautions, he was ambushed at his home in Niger, seized, and traded among extremist groups under the umbrella of an al-Qaida-aligned insurgent organization known as JNIM.

During negotiations for his release, the Woodkes felt that the FBI kept them at arm’s length, providing misleading information about the captors’ demands and withholding crucial details. They only learned in 2021 that the captors had initially demanded a ransom of 3 million euros and the release of prisoners from West African jails. Negotiators, acting without the family’s input, managed to eliminate the prisoner release demand but inadvertently doubled the ransom to 6 million euros, an insurmountable amount for Els Woodke.

Els faced challenges in raising the ransom due to government restrictions and the requirement that she personally approach potential donors. The FBI refused to provide written reassurances that those involved in fundraising would not face prosecution, making it difficult to secure sufficient funds. Although she made every effort, including writing personal letters to people she knew, Els was unable to pay the ransom, citing government limitations that hindered her fundraising efforts.

The Woodkes’ frustrations shed light on the government’s uneven success in navigating relationships with hostage families, despite a 2015 policy overhaul aimed at improving communications and addressing concerns about criminal prosecution related to ransom payments. While the FBI declined to comment on the specific claims made by the Woodkes, they expressed their commitment to supporting Jeff and his family, while the State Department confirmed multiple conversations between Blinken and Els Woodke without discussing the details.

Following his release, Jeff Woodke returned home to McKinleyville, California, but faces significant challenges in readjusting to life after captivity. He is burdened with leg injuries and substantial medical and dental bills. Even obtaining a driver’s license has proven to be a months-long struggle. While he acknowledges some support from the State Department’s special envoy for hostage affairs, Woodke feels insufficiently assisted by the government. Plans are underway to raise funds from friends and supporters to help alleviate the mounting expenses.

Woodke concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing hostages as human beings, not commodities or bargaining chips, and highlights the need to spare families from the anguish they endure.

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More about hostage release

• The Washington Post – The Washington Post article providing details about the hostage’s ordeal and frustrations with the US response.
• The Big Big News – The website where the joint interview with the Woodkes was conducted, sharing previously unreported details about the captivity and interactions with US officials.