WARRI CRISIS UPDATE 13AUG03

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001379 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2013 TAGS: EPET PINS ASEC PGOV PHUM NI SUBJECT: WARRI CRISIS UPDATE 13AUG03 REF: A. ABUJA 1328 ¶B. ABUJA 1354 1.(U) Classified by Counselor James Maxstadt for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 2.(C) A Warri-based member of U.S. NGO "IFESH" informed Corporate Responsibility Officer (CRO) late August 12 of a new attack on Gbomwei, an Ijaw village in the Warri area. The attack, reportedly launched by Itsekiri militants, began at 5:30pm local August 12. Gbomwei is near the Warri refinery, within eyesight of Warri town, and had been attacked by Itsekiris on August 2. (Ref A). Delta State Police Commissioner Charles Akaya confirmed the August 12 attack in a phone conversation August 13, but could not confirm a local press report (Daily Times) of 10 deaths in Gbomwei and an additional attack the same day on a second Ijaw village. 3.(C) CRO spoke with Ijaw national leader Chief Edwin K. Clark, who stated that he would meet with the leaders of the Ijaw militant group "FNDIC" on August 13 and urge them not to retaliate against the Itsekiri. In a separate conversation with CRO, Ijaw Youth Council activist Dimieari Von Kemedi stated that he had relayed a message to his colleagues in FNDIC urging them not to be provoked by this attack. Von Kemedi opined that an Ijaw counter-attack is precisely what the Itsekiri seek in order to precipitate intervention by the Nigerian military. 4.(C) On a separate subject, Shell appears to be closely involved in the Nigerian military's plans for a large-scale deployment in the Warri area, according to Chevron's security advisor, Hamish MacDonald. This tracks with the recent revelation from Shell's Security manager in Warri that Shell is providing the army with helicopters for reconnaissance. (ref B) LIBERI