Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAGOS1078
2006-08-07 21:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
ONE GERMAN, THREE FILIPINOS, KIDNAPPED IN RIVERS
how-toVZCZCXRO3156 RR RUEHDE RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #1078 2192116 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 072116Z AUG 06 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7754 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 7693 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0678 RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001078
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER PINR NI
SUBJECT: ONE GERMAN, THREE FILIPINOS, KIDNAPPED IN RIVERS
STATE
REF: LAGOS 1029
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001078
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER PINR NI
SUBJECT: ONE GERMAN, THREE FILIPINOS, KIDNAPPED IN RIVERS
STATE
REF: LAGOS 1029
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E)
1. (SBU) A German and three Filipinos kidnapped in Rivers
State on August 3 and 4, respectively, are still being held
hostage. Guido Schiffaiph, a German national working for
German construction firm Julius Berger, was taken hostage in
the city of Port Harcourt when reportedly a man dressed in
army fatigues hijacked Schiffaiph,s car. The vehicle was
later found abandoned near Abaloma. Schiffaiph,s driver has
been held for police questioning. No militant group has
claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
2. (C) Charge Geranfen Abrillo of the Philippine Embassy
confirmed that armed men kidnapped three Filipino men from
the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facility on Bonny
Island. Bonny Island is the site of several major oil and
gas facilities. The men worked for Overseas Technical
Services, a U.K.-based subsidiary of U.S. firm Michael Baker
Energy, and a contractor for NLNG. (NOTE: Baker Energy is
not affiliated with American oil services company
Baker-Hughes. END NOTE.) Baker Energy General Manager
Richmond Leeb told us militants, rather than community
members, kidnapped the employees. They have made significant
monetary demands. Baker Energy is bringing professional
hostage negotiators to Nigeria to handle this matter.
3. (C) Security officials from an oil service company have
told us they had been informed that militant groups,
including members of MEND, met at Bomadi, Delta State, on
August 1. Participants agreed to launch attacks against the
oil industry before October 2 to pressure the GON to release
militant leader Dokubo Asari and impeached former Governor of
Bayelsa State Alamieyeseigha, both currently under arrest by
the GON. (NOTE: Former Governor Alamieyeseigha is next due
in court on October 2. END NOTE.) The report indicates
militants plan to seize barges and rigs, both on and
offshore; take hostage Nigerian political leaders and oil
industry officials; attack military facilities in the Niger
Delta; and attack Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) offices in the Niger Delta. (COMMENT: Because we do
not know the identity of the participants at the meeting, we
cannot accurately judge the seriousness of the threat.
However, if the FNDIC wing of MEND was involved it would
signal that they are losing patience with the informal
ceasefire they agreed to with the GON. And if that is so,
then we would have to lend this threat a significant degree
of credibility. END COMMENT.)
BROWNE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER PINR NI
SUBJECT: ONE GERMAN, THREE FILIPINOS, KIDNAPPED IN RIVERS
STATE
REF: LAGOS 1029
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E)
1. (SBU) A German and three Filipinos kidnapped in Rivers
State on August 3 and 4, respectively, are still being held
hostage. Guido Schiffaiph, a German national working for
German construction firm Julius Berger, was taken hostage in
the city of Port Harcourt when reportedly a man dressed in
army fatigues hijacked Schiffaiph,s car. The vehicle was
later found abandoned near Abaloma. Schiffaiph,s driver has
been held for police questioning. No militant group has
claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
2. (C) Charge Geranfen Abrillo of the Philippine Embassy
confirmed that armed men kidnapped three Filipino men from
the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facility on Bonny
Island. Bonny Island is the site of several major oil and
gas facilities. The men worked for Overseas Technical
Services, a U.K.-based subsidiary of U.S. firm Michael Baker
Energy, and a contractor for NLNG. (NOTE: Baker Energy is
not affiliated with American oil services company
Baker-Hughes. END NOTE.) Baker Energy General Manager
Richmond Leeb told us militants, rather than community
members, kidnapped the employees. They have made significant
monetary demands. Baker Energy is bringing professional
hostage negotiators to Nigeria to handle this matter.
3. (C) Security officials from an oil service company have
told us they had been informed that militant groups,
including members of MEND, met at Bomadi, Delta State, on
August 1. Participants agreed to launch attacks against the
oil industry before October 2 to pressure the GON to release
militant leader Dokubo Asari and impeached former Governor of
Bayelsa State Alamieyeseigha, both currently under arrest by
the GON. (NOTE: Former Governor Alamieyeseigha is next due
in court on October 2. END NOTE.) The report indicates
militants plan to seize barges and rigs, both on and
offshore; take hostage Nigerian political leaders and oil
industry officials; attack military facilities in the Niger
Delta; and attack Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) offices in the Niger Delta. (COMMENT: Because we do
not know the identity of the participants at the meeting, we
cannot accurately judge the seriousness of the threat.
However, if the FNDIC wing of MEND was involved it would
signal that they are losing patience with the informal
ceasefire they agreed to with the GON. And if that is so,
then we would have to lend this threat a significant degree
of credibility. END COMMENT.)
BROWNE