Johannesburg, Oct 15, 2026: India is working to facilitate the safe return of four Indian nationals from Punjab who were kidnapped in Ethiopia last month and rescued by local law enforcement agencies a few days later, the Indian Embassy in Addis Ababa said on Thursday.
The four individuals were abducted on the night of September 25, 2026, and were successfully rescued by Ethiopian law enforcement on October 1. The embassy confirmed in a social media update that all four citizens are safe.
The diplomatic mission maintained continuous communication with local authorities to support the rescue operation and check on the well-being of the victims. After receiving consular access, embassy officials met with the rescued nationals on October 14, 2026, supplying them with Indian food and other essential amenities.
The embassy stated that it is making all necessary arrangements to ensure their prompt and safe return to India. Specific information regarding the identities of the four individuals, their exact whereabouts, and the background of the kidnapping was not immediately released.
This incident follows a separate case involving three cousins from Gujarat who were also kidnapped in Ethiopia while attempting to travel to the United States via an unauthorized route. Those three individuals were released without a ransom payment following negotiations led by the Gujarat Police and returned to India on October 1.