EXPAT OIL WORKERS KIDNAPPED IN NIGER DELTA -- MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 002434

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2013
TAGS: ASEC EPET PGOV PINR PHUM EINV NI
SUBJECT: EXPAT OIL WORKERS KIDNAPPED IN NIGER DELTA -- MORE
TO COME?


Classified By: J GREGOIRE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)



1. (SBU) On Thursday, November 27, seven expatriates were
kidnapped in Nigeria's Niger Delta region. One has escaped or
has been released. No American citizens appear to be
involved.



2. (CO) The seven expatriate employees of the Canadian
pipe-coating company Bredero Shaw were kidnapped off a boat
near Warri (they reportedly hail from Britain, AUSTRALIA,
Russia and possibly Brazil and/or Colombia). An oil company
security manager reported that the kidnappers are Ijaw, who
released one hostage. On November 28, Econoff was informed
of the kidnapping by Frank Omare, Special Assistant to the
Governor of Delta State, where Warri is located. Omare is
one of several new special assistants of Ijaw ethnicity
Governor James Ibori appointed to assist the Delta State
Security Council react to violence in the Warri region. (Some
speculate that Ibori has made Ijaw appointments to his circle
of advisors as a way to increasingly factionalize the various
Ijaw militant groups.) Omare noted one of the hostages
escaped. Omare told Econoff that the Nigerian Navy had
"seized suspected points" along the waterways, but he could
not elaborate on that statement at that moment. He said he
was on his way from Asaba to Warri to assist in the release
of the remaining hostages.



3. (CO) Also on November 28, Dudley McDaniel, Operational
Manager for Chevron's Escravos oil terminal and tank farm,
told Econoff that he was informed that the kidnappings took
place as the workers were practicing a water evacuation drill
from their Warri facilities. Mcaniel said one of the
kidnapped crew escaped on Friday, November 28, and reported
that the victims were hooded and transported to an unknown
location by boat, and that the trip took approximately two
hours. McDaniels also said the Navy and other elements of
Operation Restore Hope have stepped up patrols and were
taking steps to intercede in the kidnappings.



4. (CO) This event highlights a sudden upsurge in kidnappings
in the Delta region during the month of November (septel).
This week, a Halliburton security manager sent an inquiry to
the general security community asking for corroboration of a
report that criminal elements in the swamp regions are
planning multiple actions across the Delta during the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled
for the first week of December in Abuja. The report,
considered credible by the source, indicated that the goal of
the actions would be to shut down all oil production from the
Delta during the CHOGM, which is to be highlighted by a visit
from the Queen of England.



5. (CO) Chevron's McDaniel told Econoff that he was aware of
no specific threat as described above. He did say that
perhaps in preparation for the CHOGM activities, the Nigerian
Navy has been conducting exercises in and around the
Escravos/Warri area this week. He noted an impressive
display and use of three former buoy tenders given the GON by
the USG earlier this year, and that the Navy used a Chevron
floating rig to practice assaults and hostage release
scenarios. He said the troops appeared well organized and
capable.



6. (CO) COMMENT: We have no corroboration of the report that
mass action will take place in the Delta in conjunction with
CHOGM. The Delta "criminal elements" are factionalized among
ethnic groups and even within ethnic groups. The region is
plagued by simple bandits and robbers, illegal oil bunkerers
and pirates, whose financial and political interests differ
greatly, making it difficult to foresee an organized attempt
at massive disruption. However, it is possible that an Ijaw
umbrella group could spread the word that it is encouraging
action of some kind during the CHOGM, thus leading to
several, if not many, independent incidents of banditry,
vandalism and/or kidnapping. This would pose a far more
difficult scenario for the GON -- or the instigators -- to
contain once under way. END COMMENT.


GREGOIRE
HINSON-JONES