DELTA UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER 30

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 002013 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2014 TAGS: EPET CASC MOPS PGOV NI SUBJECT: DELTA UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER 30 REF: A. ABUJA 1675 ¶B. ABUJA 1673 ¶C. LAGOS 1998 ¶D. LAGOS 1982 ¶E. LAGOS 1978 ¶F. ABUJA 1656 ¶G. ABUJA 1486 ¶H. LAGOS 1892 ¶I. LAGOS 1820 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.5 (B & D) Summary -------------- ¶1. (S) Local press headlined today with news of government meetings with Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) leader Asari in Abuja (ref A) and purported cease-fire. Local press is now openly discussing Joint Task Force Operation Flush Out 3. NGO and energy company contacts stated that the situation in Port Harcourt was less tense. Production remains unchanged from yesterday. There have been no reports on incidents involving Americans. Apparently rival Delta militant leader Ateke Tom also has traveled to Abuja to participate in talks with the GON. Security Update -------------- ¶2. (U) Local press headlined today with news of government meetings with Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NPDVF) leader Asari in Abuja, stating that the GON and Asari had agreed to a cease-fire. See reftel Abuja 1675. ¶3. (C) Marine and Naval Attache returned 30 September from a 3-day trip to the Port Harcourt area (ref B). His NGO and oil company sources indicate the overall security situation in Port Harcourt is quiet, particularly in the city itself. His sources tended to discount Asari's assertion that he was the head a genuine Ijaw malcontent movement. They saw Asari as a political thug/bunkerer who was trying to cloak himself with Ijaw populism in order to veil the illicit pecuniary activities that are his real motivators. However, he explained that there are oil facilities or personnel, whether due to their geographical location or operational nature, that have minimal or no real security protection and that are vulnerable to the local gangs. Further reporting on the Attache's visit to Port Harcourt will be transmitted via DOD channels. ¶4. (S) The Attache also notes that he has received information that rival Delta militant leader Ateke Tom traveled to Abuja on 29 September, (separately from Asari), to participate in talks with the GON. ¶5. (U) Unconfirmed press stated that GON soldiers conducted an operation in attacked the Gbali village in the Degema local government area of Rivers on September 23 and 29, in search of bunkerers who had reportedly disarmed military personnel guarding oil installations in the area. The press quoted a resident saying that Degema is now a "ghost town taken over by the military under terrible occupation and seizure." The press reported that Army PRO Second Brigade Nigerian Army Port Harcourt said that the military had visited the town twice in the last 10 days, uncovering an undisclosed quantity of arms and ammunition in village. Reports from the Energy Sector -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Shell: Shell External Relations Director was optimistic about the cease-fire and GON discussions with Asari. There are no changes in the Shell production situation. ¶7. (C) Chevron Texaco: The Chevron Texaco MD of Onshore Operations reported that the situation in Port Harcourt is calmer, given the news of a cease-fire. Chevron continues to operate at regular production levels. Chevron Texaco Environmental and Safety officer seconded this assessment. She also detailed the security arrangements under which Chevron personnel are currently operating: Chevron uses a 5-tier security system; they are currently at tier 3 in Port Harcourt, which prohibits movement of any Chevron personnel without a GON armed escort. ¶8. (U) Forosal Drilling: Forosal Drilling contacts also indicated that the situation in Port Harcourt was calm. ACS Update -------------- ¶9. (SBU) There have been no reports on incidents involving Americans. Press -------------- ¶10. (U) While the Nigerian press was somewhat reluctant to cover military operations in the Delta, the dailies have not been bashful about covering the purported cease-fire. Most major newspapers awarded front page coverage to GON-Asari talks. One paper headlined with news that the "U.S. directs citizens to quit Niger Delta," quoting related statements from DOS spokesman Richard Boucher. BROWNE