Israeli has disclosed that its Embassy in Abuja is in contact with the Nigerian government, following the arrest of three Israelis in the South-east last week.
Isreal’s Foreign Ministry said its citizens are in Nigeria to shoot a documentary.
According to Times Of Israel, Nigerian authorities arrested and interrogated the trio on suspicion that they had come into the country to establish contact with ‘Biafran separatists.’
One of the Israelis arrested is Rudy Rochman, a Zionist activist, who came into Nigeria in company of filmmaker, Noam Leibman, and French-Israeli journalist, E. David Benaym.
The Israeli foreign ministry added that it’s citizens are in Nigeria to film “We Were Never Lost,” a documentary exploring Jewish communities in African countries such as Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, and Nigeria.
The foreigners were said to have taken off from Ben Gurion Airport on July 5, 2021, and arrived Nigeria the next day.
It was reported that they were detained at a synagogue during Friday night services in Ogidi, headquarters of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, by Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and taken to Abuja.
It was further said that the filmmakers were aware of the political sensitivity surrounding the filming of the Igbo community at this time.
It was gathered that last Thursday, those filming the documentary posted a comment on “We Were Never Lost” Facebook page, distancing themselves from any political movement.
“We do not take any position on political movements as we are not here as politicians nor as a part of any governmental delegations,” they said.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is facing treasonable charges in Nigeria, is known to associate with Jews, as the Igbo consider themselves as a lost tribe of Israel.
Kanu will appear before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 26, when his trial resumes.
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