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Nigeria Militant Sentenced to 24 Years for Bombings


Nigerian terror suspect Henry Okah, in court in Johannesburg, (File photo).
Nigerian terror suspect Henry Okah, in court in Johannesburg, (File photo).
A South African court has sentenced Nigerian militant Henry Okah to 24 years in prison.

Okah was convicted on charges of terrorism for the 2010 car bombings in the Nigerian capital Abuja, which left 12 people dead during the country's Independence Day celebrations.

He was also convicted in connection with threats against the South African government.

Okah is accused of leading the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which claimed responsibility for the Abuja attacks. He has denied any involvement.

MEND has carried out numerous attacks against Nigeria's oil industry, demanding a bigger share of the oil wealth in the Niger Delta region. Many of its members surrendered their weapons under a government amnesty program.
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