DELTA SITREP #2: AMCIT HOSTAGE CONFIRMED, TWO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001103 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2016 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER CASC NI SUBJECT: DELTA SITREP #2: AMCIT HOSTAGE CONFIRMED, TWO HOSTAGES RELEASED REF: LAGOS 1101 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) -------------- Amcit Presence and Identity Confirmed Among Recent Hostages -------------- ¶1. (SBU) We have confirmed that Amcit Royce Anthony Parfait of Houma, Louisiana, was among those kidnapped over the weekend. Details remain fuzzy, but the greater weight of the information suggests Parfait was abducted August 13 from the Goodfella's nightclub along with the other five expatriates. Edison Chouste, Parfait's employer, has informed Parfait's family about the kidnapping. ¶2. (SBU) Sunday's hostage-taking of six expatriates brings the total confirmed number of expatriates kidnapped in Port Harcourt since August 1 to 12. -------------- Six Hostages Released? -------------- ¶3. (C) The two Dredging International employees, one Belgian and one Moroccan, taken hostage on August 10 reportedly were released into the custody of the Rivers State Government. We are following up with Belgian and Moroccan Embassy officials to obtain confirmation. (Comment: Rivers State Government has not been as forthcoming with information as their Bayelsa counterparts. Governor Odili has been unreachable throughout the day. End comment.) ¶4. (SBU) According to Bayelsa State Secretary to the State Government Godknows Igali the four Trico Marine hostages, two Norwegian and two Ukrainian, taken from the Northern Comrade on August 8 will be released today. Igali said a helicopter was dispatched to transport the four from the area where they had been held in Bayelsa to Port Harcourt. We have no details yet on the agreement that brought their release. -------------- Consular Update -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Consulate General and British Deputy High Commission personnel met with representatives of those companies affected by the kidnappings to coordinate communications and to emphasize the need for the companies to identify any potential medical or other complications their employees might have that could be exacerbated by their captivity. We also discussed media strategy, coordination with the GON, maintaining constant contact with the hostages' immediate families and repatriation planning in contemplation of the hostages' release. RSO met with Niger Delta industry representatives to discuss deteriorating security conditions. Edison Chouste, employer of Amcit Royce Parfait, has hired Michael Clayton Associates to act as its security consultant/hostage negotiator. Smith International, the employer of John Guyan, has hired Control Risks Group as its consultants. Experts from both companies are due to arrive in Port Harcourt August 16. ¶6. (SBU) Representatives of two of the companies claimed their sources in Port Harcourt stated there was a significant firefight between the police and kidnappers around the area where the kidnappers abandoned their motor vehicles in hopes of spiriting their hostages out of Port Harcourt by boat. They claim at least a hundred rounds were fired during this encounter. Before escaping via the waterways, the kidnappers apparently also set fire to the vehicles used in transporting LAGOS 00001103 002 OF 002 the victims in order to destroy any evidence that might have been left. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Details of the abduction remain somewhat confused but the taking of six expatriates from Goodfella's in Port Harcourt seems to be confirmed. We are focusing our efforts to coordinate with the GON, other diplomatic missions and companies for proof of life and to identify any medical conditions any of the hostages might have so that proper medical supplies could be provided. Until we get more information from the GON as to the kidnappers' demands it will be hard to gauge how long this episode may last. ¶8. (C) Comment continued: We will be working with the Nigerian authorities and the representatives of the affected companies to establish proof of life of the victims. There are no reports of any other missing Amcits. End comment. BROWNE