Nigerian militant group puts condition for release of Indian

Abuja, July 13 (PTI) A Nigerian militant group on Monday
demanded the release of its leader in return for setting free
an Indian sailor along with five foreign crew members of a
chemical tanker.

Nigerian main militant group, Movement for the
Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), sought release of its
leader Henry Okah for medical treatment abroad.

Responding to an email inquiry by the PTI about the
wellbeing of the hostages and a recent hyped amnesty deal with
some militants by Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua,
spokesman of the group Jomo Gbomo said, "We have not entered
into any amnesty deal with Yar'Adua, but they are well and
will be released as soon as Henry Okah travels out of Nigeria
for medical attention."

Okah was extradited in 2007 from Angola and was on trial
for treason but the Nigerian government has promised to set
him free as early as Monday. His anticipated release is part
of the government-militants amnesty deal.

The Nigeria's Joint Task Force (JTF) had claimed to
recover the hijacked chemical tanker 'Sichem Peace' seized by
the militants in the Niger Delta region on July four and
launched a manhunt to secure the release of six hostages
including Indian sailor Banjit Singh Dhindsa.

On the claim by the JTF to have recovered the ship in
which the hostages were sailing, Gbomo said, "Please be
informed that the JTF is a dishonest group and what they say
should be taken with a pinch of salt. Sichem Peace was never
held by us. After the six crew members were removed, the other
crew continued the journey and moved the ship further out to
sea."

MEND confirmed that it was in touch with the ship owners
in terms of negotiation and emphasized that no other
conditions were to be met to guarantee the crews' release
except Okah going out for treatment. PTI