Henry Okah feared dead

Execution fears raise tension in Niger delta
Financial Times - London,England,UK
Claims that a leading militant from Nigeria's oilproducing delta has been killed while in detention have raised fears that violence will escalate in the region, despite assurances from the government that he is still alive. Henry Okah, a prominent member of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, was extradited to Nigeria last week from Angola, where he had been arrested in September on gun-running charges. The movement issued a statement this week saying Mr Okah had been shot while detained in Nigeria, and later demanded proof he was alive after the government denied the claim. The militants' concern has underscored the dilemma the government faces in tackling Mend, responsible for attacks in early 2006 that shut a fifth of oil production in Nigeria ... Mend, along with other militant groups in the region, declared a ceasefire after Umaru Yar'Adua, the president, launched a peace initiative to end the unrest in the delta after coming to power in April. But the movement resumed attacks in protest at Mr Okah's arrest in September ... "It seems to be pretty clear that the government is not likely to free him soon," said Nnamdi Obasi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group think-tank. "Militant groups are likely to escalate their violence in pressing for his release." ...