NIGERIA: WARRI: A PAUSE IN THE VIOLENCE?

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001866 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2004 TAGS: PINS EPET PGOV ASEC PHUM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WARRI: A PAUSE IN THE VIOLENCE? REF: ABUJA 1441 Classified By: RHINSON-JONES for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) There has been no serious violence reported in Warri for almost two weeks, other than what has been described as an inter-factional "skirmish" over the weekend of August 30 in the settlement of Ugbomro lying between Warri and Effurun. Military patrols sent to restore peace found the body of a Police Inspector said to have been ambushed. On Thursday, September 4, Halliburton's security director described the situation in Warri as an "uneasy quiet." ¶2. (C) He also told Econoff that the Itshekiri are on the verge of an attack against the Ijaw in retaliation for an earlier Ijaw attack. He said he informed the local military and police commanders of what he knows. He thinks it could happen this weekend. Others in the Warri business community are also discussing this report and are making arrangements for the safety and security of their employees. ¶3. (C) At least one newspaper has reported that a serious clash is expected this weekend in Warri. There are also reports that the Nigerian military has moved helicopters in the area, and has been flying low altitude runs over the city and environs. A Lagos businessman with close ties to Warri told Econoff that the presence of military helicopters has fueled rumors that the military expects a large scale clash and is trying to deter against it. However, he also suggests that the entire situation is rumor only: in his opinion, no faction ever announces its attacks in advance, and no one can ever predict what will happen between the feuding ethnic groups in Warri. 4.(C) Meanwhile, the boat loaded with Halliburton equipment hijacked on August 18 by Ijaw "pirates" (reftel) was released this week through peaceful mediation by the Delta state government. The expected military action never occurred. The captain and crew held hostage went unharmed and returned to Forcados. Halliburton has not yet recovered its equipment. HINSON-JONES