BBC News World

.Copyright: .

A court in Rwanda has sentenced journalist Phocas Ndayizera and six others to 10 years in prison for terrorism charges.

They were found guilty of planning explosions in public areas of the capital, Kigali, and of conspiracy to commit terrorism, reports the BBC’s Jean Claude Mwambutsa from the court.

The judge said the court could have given between 20 and 25 years to the convicts “but gave them 10 years because their plan was aborted and had no impact on the community”.

In a video conference sentencing on Thursday afternoon, six others were acquitted of the charges and the court ordered their immediate release.

In November 2018 journalist Phocas Ndayizera went missing for seven days before being paraded by police a week later when they said he had been caught being given explosives and plotting attacks.

Mr Ndayizera and his o-accused denied the charges.

Military chiefs in Nigeria have appeared before the country's lawmakers, but the outcome of their meeting has been kept secret.

They had been summoned to answer questions over numerous security challenges - including an increase in kidnappings, local militia attacks and an Islamist insurgency.

In attendance were the heads of the army, navy and air force, as well as those heading the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police.

President Muhammadu Buhari had held a meeting with them on Wednesday, without any hint about what decisions were made.

In northern parts of Nigeria, residents remain at the mercy of Boko Haram insurgents and armed criminal militias.

They have targeted students of secondary schools and universities kidnapping many of them for ransom.

In south-eastern Nigeria, members of the security forces and government facilities are increasingly becoming targets of attacks by gunmen.