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Nigeria denies militant's death Nigeria denies militant's death
(10 minutes later)
The Nigerian president has denied claims that a militant leader from the country's oil-rich Delta has died in police custody. Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has denied claims a militant leader from the country's oil-rich Delta has died in police custody.
Presidential spokesman Segun Adeniyi said Henry Okah was "safe and well". The president's spokesman said Henry Okah was "in safe custody".
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) had sent an e-mail to reporters saying he was shot "accidentally" during interrogation.The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) had sent an e-mail to reporters saying he was shot "accidentally" during interrogation.
Last week, Mr Okah was extradited from Angola, where he was arrested for allegedly trying to buy arms. Last week, Mr Okah was extradited from Angola, where he was held in September for allegedly trying to buy arms.
The Mend e-mail said: "Disturbing reports just reaching us suggest that Henry Okah succumbed to injuries from gunshot wounds at about 0400 hours today [Tuesday]... at a military hospital in Kaduna state... after he was shot in what those interrogating him claim was an 'accidental discharge'." The Mend e-mail said it had received "disturbing reports" of Mr Okah being shot dead at a military hospital in Kaduna state on Tuesday morning.
Hoax? Wild rumour?
But Mr Adeniyi said Mr Okah was in the capital Abuja in the custody of the security services. Giving the government 24 hours to confirm or deny the rumour, the group warned: "Failure to do this will bring a bloodbath in that region and beyond."
The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Nigeria by tradition is full of wild rumour and this could well turn out to be a hoax, but if it not, there could be real consequences. Presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said Mr Okah was in the capital Abuja, adding: "I know that Henry Okah is alive. He is in safe custody."
Mr Okah is a founder member of the Mend, which came to prominence in the Delta two years ago when it carried out a string of attacks which cut Nigerian oil production by a quarter. The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Nigeria by tradition is full of wild rumour and this could well turn out to be a hoax.
Since then the group has factionalised and some leaders have halted attacks after striking deals with the government. But if Mr Okah has died in custody, it could spark a fresh round of violence and derail any talk of peace, he says.
But if Mr Okah has died in custody, it could spark a fresh round of violence and derail any talk of peace, our correspondent says. Mr Okah is a founder member of the Mend, which carried out attacks in the Delta two years ago that cut Nigerian oil production by a quarter.
Since then the group has factionalised and some leaders have halted attacks after striking deals with the government, although Mr Okah's faction has remained active.