A gang of four kidnapped an Israeli businessman living in Nigeria Tuesday night. The Foreign Ministry identified him only as a man in his 60s from central Israel.
He was kidnapped while in his car in a parking lot outside his home at Port Harcourt, on the Nigerian coast, and his driver has been arrested in connection with the event. The victim had just returned from a festive event with the local governor, the Israeli Ambassador, and several businessmen.
Kidnappings are not uncommon in Nigeria, where there is a large poor population living alongside wealthy investors and profiteers from oil exploration. Port Harcourt, in particular, is hard-hit by this scourge. In most cases, victims are freed after the kidnappers receive the demanded ransom.
However, the Foreign Ministry pointed out that the reasons for the abduction were not clear. It is currently not known if the kidnappers are demanding a ransom, or whether the abduction was terrorist-related.
The Foreign Ministry and Ambassador to Nigeria Moshe Ram are monitoring the situation, trying to secure the man's release.