SIX ADDITIONAL EXPATRIATE HOSTAGES SEIZED IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001093

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER PINR NI
SUBJECT: SIX ADDITIONAL EXPATRIATE HOSTAGES SEIZED IN
NIGERIA

REF: A. LAGOS 1078


B. LAGOS 1050

C. LAGOS 752

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E)

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Summary
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1. (C) Kidnappings of both oil and non-oil workers
continued in the Niger Delta. Since 8 August, six more
expatriates have been kidnapped in two separate incidents.
Three of the four kidnappings during the last week may have
been committed by the same perpetrators, a new group calling
itself the Movement of the Niger Delta People (MONDP). The
other kidnapping appears to be a community incident related
to the June Peak Petroleum kidnapping. End summary.

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Another Kidnapping in Port Harcourt
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2. (C) Dredging International Managing Director (MD) Erik
Van Wellen confirmed two employees, one Belgian, the other
Moroccan, were taken early this morning in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State. The men were en route to the office when men
in camouflage stopped their vehicle. A small band of
attackers forced the Dredging International employees from
their car. The kidnappers escaped by boat with the two
hostages. Van Wellen noted the same technique was used to
kidnap Julius Berger employee Guido Schiffaiph on 3 August
(reftel A). Dredging International, like construction firm
Julius Berger, is not in the oil industry, although the
company does some work for oil sector clients.

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Peak Petroleum: Deja Vu All Over Again
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3. (C) Tony May, MD of U.S. firm Trico Marine's UK-based
subsidiary, confirmed four expatriate employees were
kidnapped 8 August from a Norwegian-flagged vessel, the
Northern Comrade. Two boats with an unknown number of
attackers carried out the kidnapping at approximately 2330,
in an oil field operated by Nigerian firm Peak Petroleum.
The attackers initially attempted to board the Bulford
Dolphin oil rig, but failed. They then turned against the
nearby supply vessel, the Northern Comrade. Peak Petroleum
Project Manager Evans told us community members seized the
vessel's captain and chief engineer, both Norwegian, and two
other crew, both Ukrainian. The hostages were the only
expatriates on the vessel. The Bulford Dolphin rig is
approximately 40 miles offshore of the mouth of the Dodo
River, Bayelsa State. Community members attacked and
kidnapped eight expatriates from this rig on 2 June (reftel
C). Recent security improvements to the rig thwarted the
August 8 trespass.

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Captivity Continues for German and Filipino Hostages
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4. (C) Meanwhile, one German and three Filipino men
continue to be held as hostages in the Niger Delta. Two
German hostage negotiators have arrived in Nigeria. MD
Richmond Leeb of Overseas Technical Services, a subsidiary of
U.S. firm Baker Energy, told us State Security Services (SSS)
agents had visited a militant camp in Rivers State to
negotiate the release of the Filipinos. While there, the SSS
agents saw both the Filipino and German hostages, evidence
the same perpetrators carried out these kidnappings. Leeb
told us the Rivers State head of SSS was taking the lead on
negotiations. Dr. Igali, State Secretary General (SSG) of
Bayelsa State, said he was assisting Rivers State. Igali
said the negotiators were "taking their time" with this

LAGOS 00001093 002 OF 002


negotiation, and said the recent Agip standoff was
mishandled, in part because the negotiations were rushed
(reftel B).


5. (C) The German Consul reported a group named the
Movement of the Niger Delta People (MONDP) had claimed
responsibility for the kidnapping of the German national. We
do not know if this group has any ties to the Ijaw militant
groups the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
(MEND),or the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities
(FNDIC).

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Peak Petroleum: A Community Conflict Continues
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6. (C) In the wake of the June kidnappings from the Peak
Petroleum oil field, Evans said Peak Petroleum signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with communities the
Bayelsa State government had designated. Evans stated four
communities not beneficiaries of this agreement mounted this
latest attack. According to Evans, the Agge, Ogbentu,
Ajanabiri, and Orobiri communities cooperated in the attack,
with the hostages being held in Agge.


7. (C) Evans indicated the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State
is en route to Agge today to secure the release of the
hostages. Bayelsa SSG Dr. Igali is also involved in this
hostage negotiation. Igali confirmed the four hostages were
taken by communities excluded from the Peak Petroleum
agreement, but he believed the hostages were being held in
Ajanabiri.

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Comment
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8. (C) Excepting the attack on the Northern Comrade, the
other three kidnappings during the past week might have been
carried out by the same perpetrators. With MONDP's claim of
responsibility for kidnapping the German worker, we may have
a new militant group seeking a name, importance, and money.


9. (C) Currently, FNDIC is honoring a tenuous, implicit
agreement not to attack facilities or kidnap workers. The
recent kidnappers do appear to be less proficient than FNDIC,
which engineered the January and February kidnappings.
However, the surge in kidnapping indicates MEND/FNDIC is
unable to make other groups abide this agreement. More
cynically, these other groups could be working with FNDIC by
keeping pressure on the GON, thereby strengthening FNDIC's
bargaining position with the GON. In any event, the latest
string of kidnappings is centered in Port Harcourt, the turf
of Ijaw leaders like Ateke Tom and jailed Dokubo Asari. This
is not FNDC's ambit. The kidnappings also suggest the state
government's (and some companies') practice of routinely
paying ransom is becoming increasingly problematic. While it
may resolve one kidnapping, it also encourages more. Given
conditions in the Niger Delta, the kidnappings will continue.

BROWNE