Nigeria. Dangerous territory (Archive)
Photo: AFP
Nigerian abductors demand $12 million for release of Israeli man
Gilmor Engineering, company employing Israeli businessman abducted on Tuesday, receives call from kidnappers demanding ransom; family says they have not yet been updated
The gunmen who kidnapped an Israeli businessman in Nigeria are demanding $12 million for his release, an Israeli embassy source stated Friday. According to the statement, which confirmed a report by Haaretz news, the demand was made to the man's company, Gilmor Engineering Limited. The man's family told Ynet that they have not received this latest update yet.
Kidnapped
Roni Gal
Ynet learns 60-year-old businessman from central Israel abducted by four armed men in coastal city of Port Harcourt on Tuesday night; his driver arrested in connection with incident. Israeli ambassador to Nigeria sent to area to monitor release efforts
The 60-year old businessman, whose family asked remain anonymous, was kidnapped from the coastal city of Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Nigerian police spokeswoman Rita Inoma-Abbey said the expatriate's driver has been arrested in connection with the incident and that no further details are immediately available.
His 33-year-old daughter told Ynet on Wednesday afternoon, "In the meantime, we have no news. All we know is that he was kidnapped and we are waiting for information. "It's all in their hands. We are waiting for any information – what the kidnappers want, where he is being held. In the meantime we don’t even know who took him. No one has claimed responsibility so far."
The hostage's friend, Ron Eisen, who manages a construction company in Nigeria, was one of the last people to see him before he disappeared. "We left the governor's compound in his car, and then each went home in his own car," Eisen recounted. "From what we know now, the abductors must have followed him and kidnapped him the moment he got out of his car near the garage at his house."
Since then, Eisen said, the Israelis in the country have been doing everything in their power to bring the businessman home. "I have his insulin, and I hope to be able to transfer it to him as soon as possible," he said. "The Israeli ambassador, on his end, is doing all he can to help and controlling the issue by putting pressure on the government."
