(Monday, 9:43AM IL) Officials in Israel are confirming reports that Israeli citizen Ehud Avni, a real estate agent kidnapped in Nigeria last week, has been released.

According to an Israel Radio report, Avni was released following a joint effort by the Israel Foreign Ministry and Nigerian officials.

His abductors originally demanded $12 million for his release, but he was set free without collecting the ransom after they realized they have the wrong person.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)