Big party at the brothers Ronald and Jeroen Molenaar from Hoogkarspel, now that Jeff Woodke – the American husband of their sister Els – has finally been released. He was kidnapped in Niger, Africa, more than six years ago and held captive all that time.
In the course of the afternoon, the redeeming phone call came to Jeroen and Ronald. Out of nowhere. “Els said that he has been released. In Niamey, the capital of Niger. Together with another French hostage. We don’t really know anything else yet,” says Jeroen. For Ronald it means a double holiday, because his daughter got married today. “Very special how things come together. It couldn’t be better,”
Jeff’s release is big news in the United States. CNN, CBS and the New York Times all reported the happy event on Monday afternoon. It indicates that this is an important matter in America. “Agencies such as the FBI and CIA have been working on this for all these years,” says Ronald.
Jihadists
On October 14, 2016, during development aid work, Jeff Woodke was pulled into a van in Niger by jihadists, believed to be a group affiliated with IS. An employee and a security guard are killed in the action, Jeff is taken away. “A deliberate action”, Jeroen suspected. The van drove towards the border with Mali, where he may have stayed for a long time.
Els and her brothers, who grew up in Hoogkarspel but live in America, and her brothers remained silent about the kidnapping case for five years, ordered by the American authorities. Nevertheless, confidence in a good outcome always remained high. For example, when a new director came in last year, who committed himself to the business. “That is someone who really goes for it and looks with new energy at what they can do to find Jeff,” Els told NH Nieuws last year. “We have not received any new proof of life. Yet everyone assumes that Jeff is still alive.”
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Ronald now adds: “Earlier someone was released who said he was still alive. But the risk of taking him away by force was too great. Then he would be in danger.”
Els said earlier that she had regular contact with the organization and officials involved. “Then I speak to the investigators, negotiator and high-ranking officials. That is always very close. But it is important. If they never have meetings with the family, it only becomes a matter for them. It is important that they also have the continue to see additional emotions.”
Rock solid confidence
All those investments are now paying off. Jeroen can’t believe his luck on this Monday. “I am especially happy for our sister Els, but also for my cousins, Bobby and Matthew. They have had to live without their father for more than six years. We do not yet know how he is doing. We have received some signals that he had a certain freedom. But not being able to do what you want, of course, is terrible. What does that do to you? Jeff has a rock-solid faith in faith, so I think he had something to hold on to. And he spoke the language because he also lived there, so could communicate well.”
Relief and happiness also prevail with his brother Ronald. “We’ll have a drink later.”