FIVE Nigerians who allegedly lured international businessmen to South Africa, held them captive, tortured them and then extorted their money, were arrested in Kensington yesterday, the Hawks said.

Hawks spokesperson spokesperson Musa Zondi said the men, who were caught in an early morning operation, faced charges including kidnapping and extortion.

They would appear in the Johannesburg magistrate's court on Monday.

During the operation, police rescued a 58-year-old Brazilian businessman being held captive at the house in Kensington.

A 51-year-old South Korean businessman, the president of a global shipping firm, was held at the same house for five days. He was released on May 19 after his company paid a ransom of about R537312.

Zondi said police had been monitoring the house and swooped in the early hours yesterday to rescue the second businessman.

The Brazilian would undergo medical treatment because he had been "badly burnt on his stomach, chest and feet" with a hot iron. - Sapa