OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #19

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000124

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: 01/27/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI
SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #19

REF: A. LAGOS 123 AND PREVIOUS


B. LAGOS 99

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

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HOSTAGE WELFARE UPDATE
LAST NIGHT'S ABORTED RELEASE
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1. (C) We have received several explanations for the
breakdown of last night's hostage release. In addition to
the presence of military patrol boats that allegedly
frightened the kidnappers from leaving their hide-out (reftel
A),Bayelsa Secretary of the State Government (SSG) Dr. Igali
said a disagreement, now resolved, between the five Ijaw
negotiators assigned to his committee over a planned press
statement delayed the release. Dr. Igali also told a Tidex
representative the kidnappers were upset about being
misquoted in recent Reuters reports. According to Shell, the
Bayelsa State Governor said the release was not effectuated
because too many people were made aware of the rendezvous and
this warned off the kidnappers. To avoid a repeat of last
night, Igali apparently has discussed reducing the number of
GON boats on patrol in the area tonight with the President's
Chief of Staff and the National Security Advisor.


2. (C) Igali said the release is scheduled between eight and
ten p.m. tonight.

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MILITARY UPDATE
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3. (C) Yesterday the UK DATT met the GON Chief of Defense
Staff (CDS). According to a British official, the CDS stated
no military action would occur "until after the hostages are
released." (Comment: We don't know if the CDS really
intended to imply there would be military reprisal once the
hostages were freed. We have been hearing part of the deal
leading to the release was a GON promise of military
forbearance. Should the promise be made and then broken, any
relief occasioned by the hostage release would be very
short-lived. End comment.) The Chief also confirmed the
Bayelsa State government is in contact with the kidnappers
through intermediaries. The Chief opined that the kidnappers
realize the situation has grown larger than their ability to
control it and that they want a way out and want to release
the hostages.


4. (C) DATT reports that numerous troops were being deployed
from Warri, Delta State, to Yenagoa, but said the movement
was part of the normal troop rotation and the GON military is
cognizant of the need to avoid any confrontation that would
escalate tensions.

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PRESS UPDATE
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5. (C) UK representatives said stories on the hostages and
Niger Delta security will be published in some UK papers
tomorrow, possibly including the Sunday Times and the
Observer.

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FAMILY LETTERS UPDATE
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6. (C) At the advice of their security consultants the oil
service companies have asked the families to write letters to
the hostages to boost their morale and to appeal to their
captors. No letter has been provided by the families of
Patrick Landry or Nigel Watson Clark. FBI negotiators think
the letter is a good idea and will broach the subject with
Landry's wife and son. FBI negotiators and their Scotland
Yard counterparts also believe that media intervention by
family members may be useful if this situation continues. We
have relayed the Department's concerns about media
intervention to the FBI. FBI headquarters will be in touch
with the Department should they feel the need to pursue the
idea further Additionally, FBI will work with the Landry
family to obtain medical records in light of the recently
received information that Mr. Landry suffered a mild stroke
several years ago.
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NEW ATTACK IN THE DELTA
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7. (C) Shell reported an attack on a Daewoo facility in
Rivers State between eight and nine a.m. this morning. They
described the attack as an armed robbery, with approximately
thirty armed men in several speedboats attacking a bank
located on the compound. The robbers apparently took an
undetermined sum of payroll money. There were no fatalities.
Security forces reportedly fled when the attack began.
(Note: Today was payday for Daewoo employees at the
facility. The robbers knew exactly when to hit. This modus
operandi reflects that in recent robberies described in
reftel B. End note.)
BROWNE