The Ijaw Nation Forum (INF), an organisation representing the Ijaw ethnic nationality, has petitioned South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, urging him to grant freedom to Niger Delta freedom fighter Henry Okah, who has been serving a 24-year prison sentence in South Africa since 2010.

The group described Okah’s prolonged imprisonment as unjust and politically motivated, alleging that his conviction was influenced by external pressures rather than fair judicial consideration. They appealed to President Ramaphosa to demonstrate South Africa’s commitment to human rights, justice, and African solidarity by granting Okah his freedom.

Okah, 60, was convicted by a South African court in connection with the October 1, 2010 incident in Abuja, which took place during Nigeria’s 50th Independence Day celebrations. The incident, which involved twin explosions near Eagle Square, which claimed 12 lives and left many injured. South African authorities charged Okah under the country’s anti-terrorism laws, accusing him of masterminding the attacks from Johannesburg. He has consistently maintained his innocence, insisting that his trial was politically motivated and aimed at silencing voices advocating for the rights of the Niger Delta people.

The petition further emphasized that Okah played a vital role in the Niger Delta peace process and should be recognised as a voice for justice and equality, not a criminal.

It called for his “prompt, unconditional and safe release,” arguing that South Africa’s prosecution was unlawful since Nigeria did not formally lodge a complaint.

“The arrest, trial and imprisonment of Mr. Okah constitute a hostile and unwarranted intervention by South Africa in an armed conflict that unfolded within Nigerian territory,” the group stated.

The petition was signed by leading Niger Delta figures including Alfred Diette-Spiff, the traditional ruler of Brass and a former Rivers State governor, and Felix Tuodolo, a founding member of the Ijaw Youth Council. It was submitted on behalf of the forum to the South African Presidency by Kabowei Akamande, an Ijaw activist based in the United States.

The Ijaw group claimed Okah was wrongfully arrested by South Africa’s Directorate of Priority Crimes (the Hawks) under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA). They argued that under the law, only Interpol had the authority to carry out such an arrest.

The petition further alleged that in his 15 years in custody, Okah has suffered “extreme psychological and physical torture,” leaving him with lasting facial deformities, while his family has faced harassment and loss of property.

The INF also drew parallels with South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, criticising the African National Congress (ANC) government for siding with “the suppression of the oppressed people of the Niger Delta.”

We find it deeply ironic and disturbing that an ANC-led government born out of its own history of armed struggle would now partake in the repression of the Niger Delta people,” the petition stated. “Imagine, for instance, how it would have been perceived if the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe had been arrested and prosecuted in another African nation for acts committed during the fight against apartheid.

While stressing that it does not condone violence, the group defended Okah’s agitation as part of the Niger Delta’s longstanding struggle for self-determination, environmental justice and a fair share of oil revenues.

The petition renews focus on the unresolved grievances in Nigeria’s oil-producing region, where agitation for resource control have periodically threatened national oil output.

By taking the case to Ramaphosa, the Ijaw group is not only challenging the legitimacy of Okah’s conviction but also reviving wider questions about how Nigeria addresses dissent in the Niger Delta a region whose stability remains critical to the country’s economy.