by Emma James at Daily Mail
- Jeff Woodke was the first American citizen to be abducted in the Sahel region when he was kidnapped in Abalak in October 2016
- He was released on Monday outside of Niger in the Mali-Burkina Faso area according to a senior Biden administration official
- US Security advisers confirmed that there were no payments made to terrorist organizations to secure his release
An American aid worker who was kidnapped in Niger more than six years ago and held hostage by an Al-Qaeda terror group has finally been released.
President Joe Biden‘s national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that Jeff Woodke was released on Monday.
Woodke was kidnapped in Abalak in October 2016 by members of JNIM, the umbrella organization which includes Al Qaeda.
The long-time aid worker was the first American citizen to be abducted in the Sahel region.
Sullivan said in a statement: ‘I’m gratified & relieved to see the release of U.S. hostage Jeff Woodke after over six years in captivity. The U.S. thanks Niger for its help in bringing him home to all who miss & love him.’…
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