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Henry Okah, Top Militant
Leader in Custody in Nigeria
02-18-2008
Angola extradites two
suspected Nigeria militants believed to be involved in attacks on oil companies
in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region.
The attacks have helped spike oil prices to record highs in the region and made
the delta area particularly unattractive to expatriates who are regularly
targeted for kidnapping.
Henry Himomotim Okah and Eduardo Atata were extradited to Nigeria in proceedings
witnessed by senior Interpol officers and diplomats from both countries,
Angola's state news agency reported.
The two were arrested by Angolan police in September 2007 over alleged arms and
explosives trafficking for purposes of terrorist activity.
The Nigerian militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
(MEND) condemned the return of Henry Okah - believed to be the movement's top
leader - and said he was innocent of the gunrunning and coup-plotting charges
lodged against him after his September arrest in Angola.
MEND militants emerged about two years ago, showing much greater organization
and military skills than other factions. Their military-style raids on the oil
industry has cut production by some 20 percent in Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil
producer--a factor helping send world oil prices to historical heights.
Fractious rebel groups in the Niger Delta region have a wide range of demands,
but all want more oil money to stay in the delta to provide development and jobs
to the remote, impoverished region.
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