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| Nigeria rebel 'is alive and well' | Nigeria rebel 'is alive and well' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A key member of a Niger Delta oil rebel group has been confirmed as alive and well by members of his family. | |
| The news comes over a week after Henry Okah's rebel group threatened "anarchy" in the Delta region unless his family and lawyers were given access to him. | The news comes over a week after Henry Okah's rebel group threatened "anarchy" in the Delta region unless his family and lawyers were given access to him. |
| Mr Okah, head of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), was arrested in September. | Mr Okah, head of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), was arrested in September. |
| The government last week revealed charges of treason against Mr Okah, who faces a death sentence. | The government last week revealed charges of treason against Mr Okah, who faces a death sentence. |
| Mr Okah claims that at the time of his arrest he had been assured by the government that he would be part of a peace deal and would not be pursued by security services. | Mr Okah claims that at the time of his arrest he had been assured by the government that he would be part of a peace deal and would not be pursued by security services. |
| Through his brother, Mr Okah claimed to have met Vice President Goodluck Jonathan in South Africa last August where a "gentleman's agreement" was made. | Through his brother, Mr Okah claimed to have met Vice President Goodluck Jonathan in South Africa last August where a "gentleman's agreement" was made. |
| "He feels betrayed," his brother Charles said. | "He feels betrayed," his brother Charles said. |
| Profile: Henry Okah | Profile: Henry Okah |
| But government sources said it was unlikely the vice president would have the power to make a deal with Mr Okah. A spokesman for the vice president was not immediately available for comment. | But government sources said it was unlikely the vice president would have the power to make a deal with Mr Okah. A spokesman for the vice president was not immediately available for comment. |
| Mr Okah's older brother Charles said he did not appear to have been physically harmed during his detention. | Mr Okah's older brother Charles said he did not appear to have been physically harmed during his detention. |
| He and a friend, Edward Atatah, were arrested by the Angolan security services in September. | He and a friend, Edward Atatah, were arrested by the Angolan security services in September. |
| Interpol said the pair were trying to buy arms. | Interpol said the pair were trying to buy arms. |
| They deny the charge and say they were in Angola to buy a boat. | They deny the charge and say they were in Angola to buy a boat. |
| 'Strong and resolute' | 'Strong and resolute' |
| They were extradited to Nigeria in February, where they have been kept in solitary confinement in an unknown location. | They were extradited to Nigeria in February, where they have been kept in solitary confinement in an unknown location. |
| "He told me to tell every one that he's strong and resolute, he was his typical self," his brother Charles said. | "He told me to tell every one that he's strong and resolute, he was his typical self," his brother Charles said. |
| "He says there is no substance to the charges. Anyone who has any evidence he is a gun-runner should come forward with the evidence." | "He says there is no substance to the charges. Anyone who has any evidence he is a gun-runner should come forward with the evidence." |
| He said the only evidence the Angolans had that he was a gun-runner were two books, a motivational self-help book and another a book on military history. | He said the only evidence the Angolans had that he was a gun-runner were two books, a motivational self-help book and another a book on military history. |
| Charles Okah said Mr Atatah had developed "psychological problems" after a month in solitary confinement. | Charles Okah said Mr Atatah had developed "psychological problems" after a month in solitary confinement. |
| "Edward is suffering from hallucinations. He talks to himself and believes things are coming out of his head," Charles Okah said. | "Edward is suffering from hallucinations. He talks to himself and believes things are coming out of his head," Charles Okah said. |
| Femi Falana the lawyer representing the pair said Mr Atatah was suffering from "acute hypertension." | Femi Falana the lawyer representing the pair said Mr Atatah was suffering from "acute hypertension." |
| He said they hoped to get a court to charge him or release him next week. | He said they hoped to get a court to charge him or release him next week. |
| Mend emerged in 2006. They kidnapped oil workers and emailed pictures to news desks bringing attention to the Niger Delta. | Mend emerged in 2006. They kidnapped oil workers and emailed pictures to news desks bringing attention to the Niger Delta. |
| Mend say they are campaigning for a greater share of the oil wealth, but government says they are criminals motivated by the ransoms they receive from oil companies. | Mend say they are campaigning for a greater share of the oil wealth, but government says they are criminals motivated by the ransoms they receive from oil companies. |
| Oil production has been slashed in Nigeria after attacks by militant groups on installations. | Oil production has been slashed in Nigeria after attacks by militant groups on installations. |