An Al-Qaeda group based in North Africa has declared that it is holding a German citizen captive after abducting him in Nigeria.

The statement by the Al-Qaeda group in the Islamic Maghreb, (AQIM) was made known by a Mauritanian news portal; Nouakchott Information Agency website, a medium which has always been used by the group to send messages.

The statement published on Wednesday by the AQIM is demanding that German authorities release Oum Seif Allah Al Ansari, who the terror group said was being subjected to inhumane treatment in a German prison.

The German man, Edgar Fritz Raupach, an engineer was allegedly kidnapped in Kano state, in January and his abduction is believed to be the first time the terror group has kidnapped a foreigner in Nigeria.