Three Israeli filmmakers arrested in Nigeria arrive in Israel after being released thanks to help from the Embassy.
Three Israel filmmakers who had been arrested in Nigeria arrived back in Israel on Thursday morning.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) said: “I am very happy that Rudy, Andrew, and David have been released from a Nigeria prison and returned this morning to Israel.”
“I thank the staff of the Foreign Ministry, the Consular Branch, and especially the Nigerian authorities and the Chargé d’Affaires in Nigeria, Yotam Kreiman, for their unending efforts to bring about the release. The emissaries of the State of Israel, around the world, have once again proven that they stand on guard and help every Israeli in distress.”
Rudy Rochman, Andrew (Noam) Leibman and Edouard David Benaym, who were arrested as they attempted to film a documentary, were released Wednesday thanks to aid from the Israeli Embassy in Abuja. They arrived in Israel Thursday morning.
The trio were arrested three weeks ago in Nigeria’s state of Anambra, on suspicion of cooperating with an extremist separatist organization. Since then, various branches of the Foreign Ministry have been working to free them.
On Wednesday, the Nigerian authorities released the men, and Kreiman, who had been in touch with the filmmakers and their families on a daily basis, accompanied them until they took off.
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The three thanked the Israeli Foreign Ministry and praised the cooperation between the embassies of Israel, the US, and France in Nigeria, who worked together with the Nigerian authorities and kept in touch with them during their time in prison.
Kreiman also thanked Chabad of Abuja for providing the three with kosher food, and the Nigerian authorities for their cooperation in bringing about the Israelis’ release.
It is earlier reported that, the Israeli were in Nigeria to shoot a documentary which explores Jewish communities in African countries such as Kenya, Madagascar and Nigeria.
The State Security Service (SSS) has arrested, detained and and reportedly tortured three Israeli filmmakers over allegations that they supported the activities of Independent People of Biafra (IPOB).
Times of Israel reported that a Zionist activist, Rudy Rochman, filmmaker Noam Leibman and French-Israeli Journalist E. David Benaym were arrested last week when they visited Ogidi village, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State to shoot a documentary.
The trio was said to have taken off from Ben Gurion Airport, Israel on July 5 and arrived in Nigeria the following day to film the documentary, “We Were Never Lost” which explores Jewish communities in African countries such as Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, and Nigeria.
Locals said the SSS operatives interrogated and detained the crew at a synagogue during Friday night services in Ogidi and were subsequently taken to Abuja.
“We do not take any position on political movements as we are not here as politicians nor as a part of any governmental delegations”, a post on the “We Were Never Lost” Facebook page partly read as the shoot came on the heels of the arrest and repatriation of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry was said to have confirmed the arrest on Tuesday and noted that the Israeli Embassy in Abuja was following up on the case, although Peoples Gazette could not reach the ministry for confirmation.
