ABUJA, Nigeria, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The brother of a Nigerian militant in custody in South Africa has been charged with kidnapping nine foreign oil workers this year, authorities say.
Appearing in court, Charles Okah and three other men denied kidnapping four Indians, three French citizens and two Russians in the oil-producing Niger Delta between August and October, the BBC reported.
Okah's brother Henry remains in custody in South Africa accused of masterminding car bombings in the Nigerian capital of Abuja that killed 12 people Oct. 1 as Nigeria was celebrating 50 years of independence from the United Kingdom.
The kidnapped oil workers were rescued this month in an army operation.
Most of Nigeria's oil militants have agreed to a cease-fire as part of a government amnesty, but one faction is believed to be behind the recent upsurge of violence that included the Independence Day attacks and kidnappings.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta says it is fighting so that more of Nigeria's massive oil wealth is used to benefit the Niger Delta area, which produces the oil.
