Israeli Businessman Abducted At Gunpoint In Nigeria, Days After Israel's Counter Terrorism Bureau Issues Warning

An Israeli businessman was abducted from his home in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt on Tuesday night. The man's name was not made public but his family has been notified of the abduction. According to reports there are numerous gangs operating in the city and in the past few months over 200 foreign nationals have been kidnapped. No group has claimed responsibility for the Israeli's abduction. The kidnapping occured just days after the Counter Terrorism Bureau issued a rare world wide travel advisory warning of possible attempts by Hizbullah to kidnap Israelis abroad, in revenge for the assassination of Imad Mugniyah in Damascus in February this year. The advisory especially related to African countries and called on Israelis residing in those countries to take special precautions. Al Qaida views Nigeria as a haven for global terrorism and has set up a training camp and recruiting bases in this West African nation. The United States embassy in Nigeria said last September the country was at risk of "terrorist attack" and Osama bin Laden once named the world's eighth biggest oil exporter as ripe for jihad. Hizbullah activity has also been reported in the area.08/27/08