Three Lebanese nationals have been kidnapped in Nigeria, amid reports that two of the three have been released for ransom.
The National News Agency said Wednesday that the Foreign Ministry had been officially notified.
A ministry source, who did not want to be identified, said the men were kidnapped Tuesday and negotiations were ongoing to secure a peaceful ending to the situation.
“The Foreign Ministry has been informed by sources from the Lebanese community in Nigeria that efforts are under way to secure their release.”
Sources familiar with the issue in Lagos identified the three men as brothers Karim and Ali Matar from the southern village of Zrarieh, in Sidon, while the third, Mohammad Haidar, is from the village of Shawkin, in Nabatieh.
They said the latest available information indicated that the Matar brothers had been released, after a ransom of approximately $60,000 was paid.
According to the reports, gunmen snatched the three Lebanese from a home in the upscale Victoria Island area of Lagos. The district is a business hub and a financial center populated by rich businessmen.
Last month, Islamist militants from the Ansaru group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of seven foreigners, including two Lebanese which followed a raid on the housing compound of Lebanese-Nigerian construction firm Setraco in the northern region of Bauchi on Feb. 16.
The group later announced they had killed the seven, releasing a video shortly afterward that purported to show the slain hostages.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, however, gave new hope to the families of the two Lebanese kidnapped there when he said earlier this month that “some” of the original seven hostages may be alive.
The governments of Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom have all confirmed the likely death of their nationals; while Lebanon has said its nationals, Imad Andari and Carlos Abu Aziz, did not appear in the video and may have been placed in a separate group with the two Syrians.
