OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #18 - NO RELEASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000123 SIPDIS STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, DS/IP/OPO, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2016 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #18 - NO RELEASE REF: LAGOS 122 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) ¶1. (C) The four oil service company hostages were not released. Bayelsa Secretary of the State Government Dr. Igali told Conoff he received a call after midnight that the three associates of the kidnappers had left Warri, Delta State, to pick-up the hostages. However, by three a.m., Dr. Igali received another call that the release could not go forward because the kidnappers were wary of the presence of GON military boats in the area. SSG Igali is making arrangements to reduce the number of GON boats on patrol so that the release can take place this evening. ¶2. (C) Post will submit an additional sitrep later today once we have more details regarding the release operation planned for tonight. BROWNE