NIGERIA: NAVY MINISTER SAYS MILITARY MUST TAKE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000659

SIPDIS


CAIRO FOR POL -- J. MAXSTADT
LONDON FOR GURNEY


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2013
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV MOPS EPET ASEC CASC PINS NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NAVY MINISTER SAYS MILITARY MUST TAKE
STRONG STAND IN THE DELTA


REF: ABUJA 236


CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER; REASONS 1.5 (B)
AND (D).



1. (C) SUMMARY: During a March 27 meeting with Ambassador
Jeter, Minister of State for Defense (Navy) Chris Agbobu
discussed the recent violence in Delta State. He
attributed the fighting to political power struggles
between the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups, Ijaw
dissatisfaction with Delta State Governor James Ibori, and
Ijaw illegal oil bunkering. Agbobu claimed Ijaw "youth"
used money from illegal bunkering to acquire small arms and
some heavy weapons. These weapons and the overall weakness
of the military and police forces in Delta State have
emboldened the militants. Agbobu believed only a show of
force by the military would resolve the matter. He
suggested the navy hold "exercises" to demonstrate the
GON's power to impose peace in the region as a way to push
the Ijaws toward dialogue. END SUMMARY.


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VIOLENCE IN THE DELTA
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2. (C) During a March 27 meeting with Ambassador Jeter,
Minister of State for Defense (Navy) Chris Agbobu discussed
the causes of and possible solutions to the recent violence
in Delta State. Agbobu described the causes of the
violence as "two fronts." First, long-standing disputes
between Ijaw and Itsekiri over the creation of new Local
Government Areas (LGAs) had created friction between the
two ethnic groups. The situation has been further inflamed
by Delta State Governor James Ibori's support for the
creation of new LGAs, favoring the Itsekiri.



3. (C) The second, and perhaps most important cause,
according to Agbobu, is Ijaw oil bunkering. Agbobu claimed
the Ijaw used their illicit profits to purchase weapons.
Agbobu did not know the source of the weapons, but
hypothesized they were being shipped into Nigeria on the
very same ships that smuggled the bunkered oil out.
Calling the Ijaw "terrorists," Agbobu said their attacks on
the Itsekiri were designed to divert the GON's
military/police task force in Delta State from the Ijaw's
illegal bunkering.



4. (C) Lamenting the condition of the Navy and that Ijaw
fighters were often better armed than the military, Agbobu
said only a show of force by the military would deter the
Ijaw's continued aggression. He suggested that the
military conduct "exercises" to demonstrate that the GON
could impose peace in the region if militants did not
submit to government authority. Agbobu complained that
Obasanjo's ultimatum to local combatants that they
immediately cease all attacks and hand over those guilty of
perpetrating prior violence was merely "Abuja talk." "How
would the President enforce the ultimatum," Agbobu asked?
Agbobu said the President should refit the Navy and supply
soldiers and police with the tools they need to combat
lawlessness in the Delta.


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U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE AND BENUE
--------------



5. (U) Turning to U.S. security assistance, the Ambassador
told Agbobu that the suspension of the IMET and FMF
portions of the U.S./Nigeria Defense Cooperation program
had nothing to do with the GON's position on the war in
Iraq. The Ambassador explained the funds were withdrawn
because the GON had not made sufficient progress in
bringing to justice those responsible for the October 2001
civilian massacre at Zaki-Biam, Benue State.



6. (C) Agbobu said U.S. assistance was the "bedrock of
reforming the Ministry of Defense" and he was sorry to see
the program diminished. While Agbobu accepted that the
assistance suspension had nothing to do with Iraq, he was
quick to criticize the U.S. position on Benue. Agbobu
spoke emotionally about the killing and mutilation of the
19 soldiers that precipitated the massacre in Benue. He
expressed great concern that no one seemed to care about
the fate of the soldiers. Driving his point home, the
Minister said, "If I were President (Zaki-Biam) would have
been erased."



7. (C) Agbobu said he did not think the soldiers at Zaki-
Biam acted with the sanction of higher command. He
believed after seeing what happened to their comrades, the
soldiers did not need orders to act. Discussing the status
of the GON's investigation into the Benue incident, Agbobu
said the military would overthrow President Obasanjo if he
indicted any officer for his role in the massacre.


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COMMENT
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8. (C) Agbobu's influence in the military may not be as
great as his position implies. He is a political appointee
selected to insure ethnic balance in the MOD. However, his
opinions on both the Delta and Benue are probably
representative of opinions both in the military hierarchy
and the rank-and-file. END COMMENT.
JETER