BAYELSA SSG DISCUSSES IJAW MILITANTS' OBJECTIVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001048

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV NI
SUBJECT: BAYELSA SSG DISCUSSES IJAW MILITANTS' OBJECTIVES

REF: A. LAGOS 1020


B. LAGOS 1001

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reason 1.4 (D).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Bayelsa Secretary to the State Government Dr.
Godknows Igali said steps must be taken quickly to improve
the prospects of Niger Delta inhabitants in order to prevent
more kidnappings of expatriate oil workers. The Secretary
claims FNDIC leader Tom Polo has been momentarily placated by
President Obasanjo's pledge to build five health centers in
Polo's area of Delta State, and FNDIC is honoring an informal
cease-fire. However, Polo still wants the release of Ijaw
leader Asari Dokubo, and Igali claims to be making some
headway with federal officials regarding Dokubo's release.
End summary.

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LATEST KIDNAPPING A CRIME, ACTION NEEDED TO STAVE OFF MORE
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2. (C) In a recent breakfast meeting at his home in Yenagoa,
Dr. Godknows Igali, Secretary to the State Government (SSG)
of Bayelsa State, told Poloff and Econoff that he and fellow
Bayelsa State officials have been effective in negotiations
with Ijaw militants because they have more credibility with
the groups than officials in other Niger Delta states. Igali
boasted "they know they can't mess with me."


3. (C) Igali explained the recent kidnapping of Dutch oil
worker Michael Llos was simply for monetary gain. Hoping to
dissuade such criminal activity, Igali responded that he did
not have money to pay them ransom when the kidnappers began
to demand one. Igali said he ultimately agreed to reimburse
the kidnappers for their expenses, including the cost of
renting the weapons and boats and of feeding their captive.
However, he was adamant that no ransom was paid. (Note:
This account of the incident differs somewhat from Dr.
Igali's previous version reftel A, when he said Llos'
kidnappers were a breakaway FNDIC group trying to establish
independent credibility. This time he described the
kidnapping as a one-time poorly-coordinated grab for a quick
payoff. End note.)


4. (C) Igali claimed the Llos kidnapping showed Delta
inhabitants increasingly viewed kidnapping as a commercial
enterprise. He asserted that action needed to be taken
quickly to address their economic development grievances to
prevent the spread of such activity. Igali said significant
investment was needed to train local youths to make them
employable, and Delta Ijaws must begin to receive an
equitable share of oil industry employment. Igali complained
that oil industry executives were of other ethnic groups,
principally Yoruba, and thus hired their ethnic kinsmen from
other parts of the country into jobs local youths could have
filled.


5. (SBU) Igali asserted that Bayelsa State is doing its part
to increase development in the state through the Bayelsa
Partnership Initiative, a new collaboration between
government, NGO, and energy industry stakeholders to expand
community-led development. Bayelsa State has also initiated
training programs for unemployed Bayelsa youths.

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FNDIC/MEND LEADER SATISFIED FOR NOW, AND KEEPING THE PEACE
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6. (C) Igali said he had just returned from a meeting with
Tom Polo (a.k.a. Government Ekpemukpolo),reputedly the
leader of the armed militant group FNDIC which is also
commonly associated with the Movement for the Emancipation of
the Niger Delta (MEND). Polo is holding to an informal
"cease-fire" to allow the GON an opportunity to honor pledges
for increased development in the region. Igali said Polo has
been temporarily mollified because the President has agreed
to establish five health centers for communities in his area.


7. (C) Igali claimed Polo is enforcing the cease-fire, even
imposing it on some Ijaw groups outside his immediate domain.
Polo carries considerable weight among Ijaws, and is an Ijaw
priest with some religious standing, Igali explained. Polo
claimed to have "arrested" a number of "rogue" militants to
maintain order, and told Igali he was not planning any
attacks in the near future.

LAGOS 00001048 002 OF 002




8. (C) Igali said although satisfied for now, Polo was still
intent upon the release of Ijaw leader Asari Dokubo, jailed
since October 2005. Polo was convinced he could keep Asari
in line if Asari were released to him. Igali claimed he was
making some headway with federal officials in Abuja toward
obtaining the Ijaw leader's release.

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COMMENT
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9. (C) Dr. Igali's remarks comport with information from
other Niger Delta sources. Although militant leader Tom Polo
has his foot on the FNDIC brake right now, he will not remain
cooperative unless he gets the development projects he has
demanded from the GON. If President Obasanjo has pledged to
establish health centers in Polo's area, it demonstrates
recognition by the President that some concrete action is
needed to ease tensions in the region. However, the
immediate gratification of a few health centers will not cure
the widespread resentment of the Niger Delta indigenes.
Moreover, unless development projects are undertaken on a
larger scale, Polo will have a difficult time not only
convincing his followers to remain quiescent, but also
persuading people of other communities outside the ambit of
the promised health centers. Polo will not be able to keep
these communities from seeing kidnapping as their best
alternative should government fail in its promise of bringing
new development projects to their areas. End comment.
BROWNE