Romanian citizen Emil Neagu, who was kidnapped along with six other people in Nigeria on October 3 and later released this year, returned to Romaniaon Monday. He refused to provide detailed information on the ransom paid for his and his colleagues’ release.

“I spent 19 days there, they used to give me boiled rice for food, i lost some 10 kilograms. I resisted as I only thought of my family”, Neagu told reporters on his arrival. “Negotiations have stagnated for a week and then the kidnappers started beating us”, he said.

He said the kidnapped were chosen at random mostly. “If you’re white and European or American, the price is high”, he said.

Neagu said he would spend some ten days on holiday in Romania and would then return to Nigeria to continue his work.

Neagu along with four Britons, one Malaysian and one Indonesian were kidnapped October 3 near the Exxon Mobile HQ in Eket, Nigeria. The media has speculated the kidnappers set a 40 million USD ransom for their release. Negotiations were carried by local authorities and four US and British companies before their release.