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
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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
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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
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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
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9. (SBU) There have been no reports on incidents
involving Americans.
Press
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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