Charles Okah charged over kidnappings

The brother of Nigeria's main militant group the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) has been charged with kidnapping nine foreign oil workers. Charles Okah – brother of Henry Okah – and three other men have denied involvement in the kidnappings, which took place between August and October this year.

Charles Okah was charged last month over the Independence Day car bombings in Abuja. However, the Nigerian authorities believe it was his brother Henry Okah who masterminded the attack. Henry Okah has been refused bail in South Africa where he is currently detained.

In total, 19 oil workers were rescued this month. The Nigerian authorities said 63 people had been arrested in connection with the kidnappings. Charles Okah and his accomplices were accused of kidnapping four Indian, three French and two Russian citizens.

The recent upsurge in militant activity is believed to have commenced with the attacks on the capital Abuja, which killed 12 people on 1st October, as Nigeria was celebrating 50 years of independence from the UK.

Source: BBC News

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

Charles Okah arrested in connection to Abuja twin bombings

Henry Okah's brother, Charles Ohak, has been arrested in Lagos in connection to the twin bombings in Abuja. The attack on 1st October, to celebrate Nigeria's 50th anniversary of independence, killed at least 12 people. Henry Okah was detained in South Africa shortly after the bombings and is facing terrorism charges.

Henry Okah, former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) has denied links to the Abuja bombings but prosecutors say he was the mastermind behind the attack. Okah left Nigeria for South Africa after being freed from prison in July 2009.

Mend had issued a threat saying it intended to target the independence event shortly before the two blasts. An email warning of another bomb attack in Abuja was sent on Saturday and signed Jomo Gbomo. Nigerian police believe that Charles Okah used the pseudonym Jomo Gbomo, "to threaten and cause confusion" in emailed statements.

Charles Okah was arrested during a raid on his home in Lagos on Saturday [16th October]. According to an unnamed source Charles Okah was "mentioned” by other suspects as a “source of funds for the blast”.

Source: BBC News

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.