California Man Details Six Years of Torture and Captivity in Africa in New Memoir

Jeff Woodke, a missionary worker from McKinleyville, California, has released a new memoir detailing his nearly seven years of captivity in West Africa. The book, titled "All the Way Home," recounts his kidnapping in Niger in October 2016, the brutal conditions he endured, and his eventual release in March 2023.

Woodke, who had spent decades working with vulnerable communities in Niger, described his abduction by armed men who stormed his home. In an interview, he recounted being beaten and drugged before being forced into a vehicle. The assault left him with skull indentations and a severed Achilles tendon after he attempted to flee.

He stated that he was subsequently trafficked, sold between different militant groups in the region. "I was trafficked. That’s what I was. I was kidnapped, and I was sold, and I was the property of another human being, or at least they thought I was," Woodke said.

His captivity took him from Niger to neighboring Mali, where he was believed to be held by a terrorist network linked to Al-Qaeda. He described periods of being shackled, forced to sleep on the ground in the desert, and enduring harsh conditions, including being left outside during heavy rains.

Woodke also detailed being confined in a small enclosure, approximately 4ft by 4ft, for about two months, where he was unable to stand. He noted the psychological toll of the isolation, stating, "There was a psychological dissociation, complete dissociation. I basically went nuts for a while. Lost time. Lost a lot."

After more than six years, Woodke was released on March 20, 2023. The Biden administration stated at the time that his release involved no ransom payment or concessions made to his captors. He was handed over to third-party special forces before being transferred to U.S. diplomatic personnel in Niamey, Niger.

The memoir explores Woodke's return to his family, including his wife, children, and grandchildren, and the challenges of readjusting to life after captivity, including dealing with PTSD and the lingering effects of his ordeal.

Woodke is now cautioning others about the dangers in the region, particularly for Westerners. "If they go in there right now, they’re just going to get taken hostage again," he warned.

He also shared his perspective on combating extremism, stating that the cycle of hatred cannot be defeated by rhetoric alone but must be countered with love. The book has resonated with readers, with many highlighting Woodke's message of forgiveness amidst his traumatic experiences.