An Israeli kidnapped

Barely three hours after the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Moshe Ram, said the crime wave in River State was blown out of proportion by the Nigerian media, another Israeli, Mr. Ehud Arny, who works for Gilmore Engineering Limited, a construction company, was Tuesday night kidnapped in Port Harcourt.
Ram had at a dinner organised in his honour by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi in Government House, Tuesday night said: “I think Rivers State is taking good care of itself. Just like I said at the dinner, the picture that is being depicted in newspapers about what is happening in Rivers State is different from what I, in the two days I have been here, have experienced.”
The kidnapped Israeli was said to have been abducted at his residence in Austin Opara Avenue off Abacha Road in Government Reserved Area (GRA) by four armed men.
Meanwhile, the state government has reacted to the abduction, saying it was planned to embarrass the government.
A statement signed by the Media Consultant to the governor, Mr. David Oyofo, read: “The kidnapping of an Israeli Tuesday night in Port Harcourt is a calculated attempt to embarrass the government and people of Rivers State.
“The kidnapping done at a time the Israeli Ambassador was visiting Rivers State is a failed attempt to make Rivers State look unsafe to the Israeli envoy and the potential Israeli investors he came with.
“However, the government and people of Rivers State cannot be cowed by this act of criminality. The government and security forces are on top of the situation.”
Police spokesperson in the state, Mrs. Rita Abbey, confirmed the kidnap, but said the driver to the Israeli had been picked for questioning.
She said every agency had been mobilised to ensure the early and safe release of the victim.
At the dinner, Ram advised Israelis in the country to invest in the state where he said there were very attractive opportunities for investment.
He commended Amaechi for his efforts at rebuilding the economy of the state, assuring would-be investors that the situation in the state could be likened to the impression created that the state of Israel was unsafe, while those inside it do not see it as such.
Ram, who also commended the security management style of Amaechi, pledged collaboration in the area, adding that his government would partner the state in any area of possible mutual benefits.
“We have come on a fact-finding mission, myself and some Israeli businessmen on various aspects like agriculture, security, education and telecommunications. We met with the government and the private sector too.
“Our interest is to identify possible areas of cooperation and build on it and ensure that our people with requisite expertise invest and contribute to the well being and growth of the state.
“So, I think they are taking care of themselves. Of course, there is a possibility of exchanging of views and sharing know-how and since we have someone who is in the security business in our mission, he will make his own contact and see what and how we can help in the security network,