NIGERIA: WEEKEND PRISON-BREAK AND HOSTAGE RELEASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000945

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2008
TAGS: EPET PGOV PHUM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WEEKEND PRISON-BREAK AND HOSTAGE RELEASE

REF: LAGOS 838

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne per 1.4 b and d


1. (SBU) Over the weekend, villagers in Bayelsa state
released six oil workers (four Nigerians and two Germans)
held hostage since June 14. The villagers took the workers
hostage to protest Shell's alleged breach of a 2002
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the community.
Negotiations to defuse the incident were led by Bayelsa state
officials and the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC).
During the talks, Bayelsa Deputy Governor Jonathan Goodluck
requested the villagers to release the hostages and not
resort to violence. However, he also chided the oil major
for "failing to honor" the MOU. As is customary, Shell did
not participate in the negotiations, viewing it as a "law and
order" issue. The state government committed to "review" the
disputed MOU.


2. (SBU) In a separate incident, gunmen stormed a Port
Harcourt prison the morning of June 18, successfully
releasing militia leader Soboma George and others. According
to the press, at least five persons were killed in the
prison-break. Press also reported the escapees raped a
number of female inmates during the mayhem. It is not clear
whether the casualties were inmates, guards, or a mix of
both. George was formerly affiliated with the Niger Delta
Vigilante Group (NDVG),led by Ateke Tom. Sources tell us
Tom turned on his former lieutenant, giving evidence to the
police implicating George in a murder. Last week, a court
ruled there was enough evidence to warrant a trial and
ordered George remanded to police custody, prompting the
subsequent riot and escape. Some press accounts maintain
most of the escapees were rearrested. However, other sources
refute that claim.


3. (C) Comment: These events are not extraordinary for the
Niger Delta region. Hostage taking is an all too familiar
phenomenon involving oil companies, villagers, and all tiers
of government. These acts of misdirected frustration will
likely continue until fundamental issues of economic
development and governance are addressed.


4. (C) Comment Cont'd: The brazen prison-break was probably
led by members (erstwhile or current) of one of the militia
groups who helped rig the 2003 elections. The break shows
the rough and uncertain terrain the Delta has become. In
this matrix of groups, loyalties and alliances are fleeting.
Your friend at dawn can become foe by dusk. Thus, the
militias are inherently unstable and that gives rise to
increased violent outbursts. That a militia could
successfully attack a prison means the militias are becoming
more sophisticated, more assertive, and perhaps less fearful
of GON security authorities. This could portend bolder
militia forays in the future. Meanwhile, we have seen scant
evidence the GON is taking meaningful steps to disarm and
demobilize militias in the Niger Delta region. Quite the
opposite, indications are that some senior political
officials continue to finance and arm these gangs (reftel).
If the GON does not move to eradicate the use of politicized
"muscle," more such violent actions loom ahead.

BROWNE