OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #16

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000101

SIPDIS

STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, DS/IP/OPO, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI
SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #16

REF: A. LAGOS 99 AND PREVIOUS

B. ABUJA 120

Classified By: Acting Section Chief Shannon Ross for Reasons 1.4 (D & E
)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Press reports of additional hostages are false.
Bayelsa state officials' assurances of the hostages' release
were proven wrong, and the negotiators are delaying further
talks regarding the crisis. Delta State officials have not
been any more in touch or informed about the situation than
the Bayelsa team. Mission, British High Commission, and
industry representatives continue to pursue communication
through Peter Quiatkowski's contacts, so far the only proven
avenue to the kidnap gang. Mission remains on alert to
support the hostages' repatriation while continuing to pursue
all promising leads. End summary.

--------------
MISTAKEN MEDIA REPORTS OF ADDITIONAL HOSTAGES
--------------


2. (C) Press reports that four additional hostages were
taken are false. The Guardian, a national daily, mistakenly
repeated their report word-for-word, including the names of
the hostages, incorrectly identifying them as abducted
yesterday. There have been no additional hostages taken.

--------------
HOSTAGE WELFARE UPDATE:
STILL NO PROGRESS FROM BAYELSA STATE TEAM
--------------


3. (C) Despite Bayelsa negotiators' assurances, Mission has
received no notification of the hostages release. Conoff in
Yenagoa in contact with the five-person Bayelsa negotiating
team was told that release was delayed by powerful
thunderstorms in the area overnight. Following up on the
negotiators' plan to meet with the kidnappers overnight,
Conoff contacted Jane Alekioc and Kennedy Onibebe, but both
stated they had not gone to the creeks as planned. Conoff
could not reach the other negotiators. Chairman Joshua
Benamaisia told Econoff that he had visited the creeks
overnight, but has not provided any details about the trip.


4. (C) Conoff's meeting with the Bayelsa negotiating team
this morning was postponed. Since the predicted release did
not happen, the Bayelsa SSG has continued to defer meeting
with us.


5. (C) Bayelsa SSG introduced Conoff to Captain Clery
(Government Ekpemukpolo's uncle) and Chief Saturday Gregden,
both of whom confidently said negotiations were ongoing and
would soon bear fruit. It is unclear what prompted the
introduction, but Conoff will pursue the relationship and
investigate what they can offer.


6. (C) Pressed by Conoff about any new developments or
recent confirmation of the hostages' well-being, Bayelsa SSG
eventually said he knew the hostages were still fine because
the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja has a recent
videotape of them. No explanation was provided for when or
how the tape was obtained, or why its existence was not
divulged immediately. (Comment: Conoff's impression is that
SSG either knows nothing, or knows much but is reluctant to
cooperate with us. At times throughout this crisis the SSG
has stonewalled, relenting only when pressed, and then
seeming to tell us vague, unsubstantiated yet encouraging
news, presumably to placate us. News of the recent videotape
was provided in a similar manner. End comment.)


7. (C) Shell sources independently reported that the SSS
Director General in Abuja had a videotape of the hostages.
They also related that negotiations stalled on the morning of
January 25, and that Asari's release was "back on the table."

--------------
THE SECOND FRONT: WARRI, DELTA STATE
--------------

8. (C) POL Counselor met an associate of FNDIC President
Bello Oboko, who said Oboko was not available but might be
able to meet soon. The associate did confirm that three
people, Boro Tutu, Peter Ajugbe, and someone known as
"Bailbond", had been arrested, but said Tutu and Ajugbe had
already been released. The associate described Tutu and
Ajugbe as young boys with limited access to the kidnap
group's leadership. (Note: Delta and Bayelsa SSGs both deny
any arrests have been made, and Bayelsa SSG specifically
denied Peter Ajugbe had been arrested. End note.) Oboko's
associate also claimed that the demands for the hostages'
release, including GON release of Asari, have never changed.


9. (C) Meeting with POL Counselor, Delta SSG continues to
portray the kidnapping was a Bayelsa State issue.

--------------
SHELL IJAW TO ASSIST FAMILY APPEALS APPROACH
--------------


10. (C) Scotland Yard and FBI representatives are advising
and handling communication with the families regarding
possible public appeals. An Ijaw who is a senior employee of
Shell will be consulted to refine design of the family
appeals, and to identify the most effective approach for
gaining sympathy and the most effective family members to
deliver the appeal.

--------------
UPDATE ON ALTERNATIVE LINES OF COMMUNICATION
--------------


11. (C) Ecodrill Country Manager Peter Quiatkowski is
returning to Warri to contact the two intermediaries who
visited the kidnappers' camp earlier this week. Scotland
Yard and FBI have coached Quiatkowski on how to work with the
intermediaries and craft communications to the group.
Quiatkowski will ask the intermediaries to determine if the
hostages are still being kept together; the primary goal
remains to reconfirm the hostages' well-being.


12. (C) Quiatkowski has also identified a possible second
line of communication to the kidnappers. A former Ecodrill
employee, Tony (last name unknown),is from the area where
the hostages are believed to be. He has contacted a
respected chief in the area who is willing to travel to the
community with Tony. They will attempt to convince the
kidnappers their course is counterproductive, and there are
more appropriate and effective means of furthering their
cause.


13. (C) Quiatkowski will also attempt to learn more about
the hostages through the chief, but their prospects depend on
whether the chief can gain admittance to the camp to see the
hostages.

--------------
RUMORED MILITARY ACTION
--------------


14. (C) Beginning late last night, Mission began receiving
reports of military action in the Delta, but none of the
reports could be confirmed. One account described some sort
of overflight activity as a "show of force." DATT sources
only report "the usual" buildup of military personnel in this
type of crisis situation. Shell sources also reported some
aircraft activity in the region.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


15. (C) Evidence that state or federal officials have any
handle on the hostage crisis is dwindling. We continue to
investigate additional sources of information and lines of
communication to effect their release. End comment.
HOWE