SITREP #1 - 10/23/2005 1130 HOURS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002031 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/CC, DS/IP, DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, AF/W E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2006 TAGS: ASEC AEMR AMGT CASC NI BELLVIEW SUBJECT: SITREP #1 - 10/23/2005 1130 HOURS REF: A. ABUJA 2029 ¶B. LAGOS 1643 Classified By: ARSO Rich Verrier for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The EAC reconvened and was chaired by Ambassador Campbell. Nigerian officials originally declared that Bellview flight B3-210 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean but have now stated that it crashed in Oyo state. The suspected place of impact is well northwest of the flight plan. This has led to speculation that the flight was hijacked but Post is unable to confirm this information. Bellview airways held a press conference and read the names listed on the manifest. The Bellview spokesperson read Joe Haydon's name from the list. DAO GON Military contacts stated that there were no survivors on the B3-210 flight however, at a later time, it was reported that there were survivors but Post has been unable to confirm this information with eyewitness reports. -------------- WHO WAS ON BOARD -------------- ¶2. (C) It had been reported that the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria was on board however a review of the manifest was conducted and his name was not on the list. It was also earlier reported that the Nigerian Inspector General of Police for the National Police service --but RSO Abuja was able to contact the Personal Staff Officer who confirmed that the IGP was not on the flight-- and other high ranking Nigerian government officials, senior ECOWAS officials to include Executive Secretary, General Diawara and a couple of British expatriates were on board the flight. Post has received a fax copy of the manifest in document form and will be checking the list of passengers for AmCits and other notables. -------------- RESCUE EFFORTS -------------- ¶3. (C) It now appears that the official Nigerian sea search and rescue teams have stood down. Post is not aware of what actions the Federal Aviation Administration of Nigeria (FAAN) has taken in response to the reported inland crash site. The Management section is looking into the possibility of chartering helicopter support to ferry out supplies and USG personnel should the situation warrant such actions. -------------- EMBASSY AND CONSULATE CONSULAR RECOVERY TEAMS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Consulate in Lagos has sent a team to the area of the crash, although we are not aware of the actual crash site. We believe it may be in Essie, Karwawa state. Embassy Abuja is likely going to send two vehicles to the area while we actively try to get an exact location. Representatives from DOD, Consular, RSO will respond to the site. RSO Office is reaching out to their contacts to have the teams gain access to the crash site. Post is sending a casket and body bags with the React Teams. -------------- SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY AND POST -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Post's Nurse Practitioner stayed the entire night with the family of Major Haydon, at his residence. The senior US Military official in the Nigeria, DATT Colonel Sue Ann Sandusky also spent a majority of the night with the Haydon family as well. Post has made contact with the Department to expedite the arrival of Regional Psychiatrist Barry Levine from Nairobi and is working with the GON to have Dr. Levine receive an airport visa, which is against normal protocol. Once Post has officially determined that Major Haydon's mother and father have been notified the DOD Casualty Assistance team will step up their efforts in support of the Haydon's. -------------- AIRPORT OPERATIONS LAGOS AND ABUJA -------------- ¶6. (U) The airport in Abuja is open but we are receiving conflicting reports of the operations of the airport in Lagos. Although no official word has been issued by the GON Post is receiving reports that the Lagos domestic terminal is closed while the international terminal is open. Assistant Secretary Frazer has landed in Lagos. SIPDIS -------------- KEY CONCERNS -------------- ¶7. (C) Also of concern to Post is that one of President Obsanjo's wives, Stella, died in Spain. A serious concern is that some of President's closest advisors and allies were on the B3-210 and that the flight was allegedly way off its normal course. Interestingly a number of dissidents in Lagos have been arrested. It is unclear if the arrests are in response to the crash of flight B3-210. CAMPBELL