- An Israeli executive who was kidnapped last week from his house in Nigeria's oil hub of Port Harcourt was released by his abductors, yesterday.
Ehud Avni’s wife confirmed to local media on Monday that her husband had been released after spending six days in captivity and would be home soon.
"My husband is well and his kidnappers have treated him well," she said.
She however added, "We don't know under which conditions he was released, but apparently no ransom was paid. It's result of close cooperation between Nigerian security services and Israeli foreign ministry."
She noted that his kidnapping was an apparent mistake, hence his subsequent release.
Israel's ambassador to Nigeria, Moshe Ram also told media that he understood "no ransom was paid to Mr Avni's kidnappers."
A Nigerian security source said earlier kidnappers asked for a 12-million-dollar ransom for his release.
Country's most prominent armed group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), had denied any involvement in kidnapping, but had offered to help obtain his release.
Chief Executive Officer of Gilmor Engineering Ltd., Avi Golder, who employs Mr Avni, reportedly did not respond to a request for a comment.
Israeli ambassador Mr Ram confirmed that Mr Avni was released at about 3:30 A.M. Israel time, adding that Mr Avni, who is diabetic, is in good condition.
Immediately after his release, he was reportedly examined by doctors and was interviewed by Nigerian police.
According to his testimony to police, he was held by a militia, which, according to Nigerian sources, had followed him, collected information on him and his company, before kidnapping him.
Most abductions in Nigeria are related to oil business. During past three years, some 200 foreigners have been kidnapped in oil-rich delta region.
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