Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAGOS1129
2006-08-24 15:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
AMCIT PARFAIT AND OTHER HOSTAGES RELEASED
how-toVZCZCXRO0081 RR RUEHDE RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #1129 2361559 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 241559Z AUG 06 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7825 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 7759 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0186 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN 0030 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0695 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0035 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 001129
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: AMCIT PARFAIT AND OTHER HOSTAGES RELEASED
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 001129
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: AMCIT PARFAIT AND OTHER HOSTAGES RELEASED
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E)
1. (C) Ten days into the crisis, Amcit Royce Parfait and the
five other expatriate hostages were released last night. The
release came within several hours after Senator David Brigidi
of Bayelsa State opened another line of communication to the
kidnappers. While speculation is rife about ransom payments
and one of the hostages claimed overhearing kidnappers talk
about a 35-65 million naira (approximately 275,000-500,000
USD) pay off, there is no conclusive proof that money
exchanged hands.
2. (U) The hostages spent the night in Port Harcourt at the
Governor,s official residence. (Evidently, the place where
they were held is not too far from Port Harcourt.) One of
the expatriates estimated theirs was a two hour boat ride
from the place they had been held to Port Harcourt. The men
are in relatively good spirits and do not appear to have been
mistreated. Two of the hostages are ridden with insect
bites. The hostages were kept outside or in a rudimentary
hut by the kidnappers. Medical examinations have been taken
but test results for malaria are not yet back.
3. (C) This morning the hostages were flown to Lagos on the
Rivers State Governor,s jet. Royce Parfait told us the
kidnappers numbered 40-45. They were well armed but not well
disciplined. They verbally threatened the hostages but never
resorted to physical violence. Another hostage claimed drug
consumption by the kidnappers, mostly marijuana, was daily
and pervasive. The other hostages confirmed the kidnappers
appeared to have a sizeable weapons cache to the extent they
had constructed a concrete building to house and conceal
their arsenal. The kidnappers were heard claiming they would
take a month long hiatus from kidnapping before striking
again. Potential sites mentioned were the Presidential Hotel
in Port Harcourt and a few other well known nightclubs in the
city. They also boasted about seeking more high profile
hostages such as the British High Commissioner and American
Ambassador should they visit Port Harcourt.
4. (U) Amcit Royce Parfait is scheduled to leave Nigeria
aboard Air France flight 875 tonight for his onward
connection to Chattanooga. Before departing he will do a
quick debrief with Legatt. Embassy Paris has been informed
of Parfait,s transit and we provided him the Embassy,s
number should he encounter complications with his transit
flight. The Country Manager for Parfait,s employer, Edison
Chouest, will accompany him the entire flight.
BROWNE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS GPERSON AND CGAY
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: AMCIT PARFAIT AND OTHER HOSTAGES RELEASED
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E)
1. (C) Ten days into the crisis, Amcit Royce Parfait and the
five other expatriate hostages were released last night. The
release came within several hours after Senator David Brigidi
of Bayelsa State opened another line of communication to the
kidnappers. While speculation is rife about ransom payments
and one of the hostages claimed overhearing kidnappers talk
about a 35-65 million naira (approximately 275,000-500,000
USD) pay off, there is no conclusive proof that money
exchanged hands.
2. (U) The hostages spent the night in Port Harcourt at the
Governor,s official residence. (Evidently, the place where
they were held is not too far from Port Harcourt.) One of
the expatriates estimated theirs was a two hour boat ride
from the place they had been held to Port Harcourt. The men
are in relatively good spirits and do not appear to have been
mistreated. Two of the hostages are ridden with insect
bites. The hostages were kept outside or in a rudimentary
hut by the kidnappers. Medical examinations have been taken
but test results for malaria are not yet back.
3. (C) This morning the hostages were flown to Lagos on the
Rivers State Governor,s jet. Royce Parfait told us the
kidnappers numbered 40-45. They were well armed but not well
disciplined. They verbally threatened the hostages but never
resorted to physical violence. Another hostage claimed drug
consumption by the kidnappers, mostly marijuana, was daily
and pervasive. The other hostages confirmed the kidnappers
appeared to have a sizeable weapons cache to the extent they
had constructed a concrete building to house and conceal
their arsenal. The kidnappers were heard claiming they would
take a month long hiatus from kidnapping before striking
again. Potential sites mentioned were the Presidential Hotel
in Port Harcourt and a few other well known nightclubs in the
city. They also boasted about seeking more high profile
hostages such as the British High Commissioner and American
Ambassador should they visit Port Harcourt.
4. (U) Amcit Royce Parfait is scheduled to leave Nigeria
aboard Air France flight 875 tonight for his onward
connection to Chattanooga. Before departing he will do a
quick debrief with Legatt. Embassy Paris has been informed
of Parfait,s transit and we provided him the Embassy,s
number should he encounter complications with his transit
flight. The Country Manager for Parfait,s employer, Edison
Chouest, will accompany him the entire flight.
BROWNE