STATEMENT OF ELS WOODKE REGARDING JEFFERY WOODKE’S RELEASE

7:00am PST March 20, 2023

 

Els Woodke confirmed this morning that she has been informed by the US government that her husband Jeffery Woodke is free after 6 ½ years captivity in West Africa. Jeff, a missionary who has been conducting humanitarian aid work in Niger for more than 30 years, was kidnapped from his residence in Abalak, Niger on October 14, 2016. The US and Nigeran governments have long suspected that jihadists have held Jeff in the Sahel since then.

 

Els has not yet heard from Jeff but she has been told he is in good condition. 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. She praises God for answering the prayers of Christians everywhere who have prayed for this outcome.

 

Els will release more information later today as it becomes available to her.

 

 

For further information: Jeff Neely (719)229-5604, [email protected]; Bob Klamser

(805) 207-2261, [email protected] .

 

 

Free Jeffery Woodke

Jeff was kidnapped from his residence in Abalak, Niger on October 14, 2016. Some men drove to his house in the early evening in a small pickup truck, got out and killed both of Jeff’s guards, and forced Jeff into the truck at gunpoint. The truck was followed for a while by Jeff’s neighbors but was last seen driving into the night, north towards the Mali border. Now, more than 5 years later, he remains a hostage held by jihadists somewhere in the Sahel.