EIGHT EXPATRIATES KIDNAPPED IN AKWA IBOM STATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001254 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOE FOR GPERSON, CGAY TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2016 TAGS: EPET ENERG ASEC PTER CASC NI SUBJECT: EIGHT EXPATRIATES KIDNAPPED IN AKWA IBOM STATE REF: LAGOS 1249 Classified By: Consul General Brian Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D,E) ¶1. (C) Summary: Eight expatriates, including four from the United Kingdom, two from Malaysia, one from Romania and one from India, were kidnapped October 3 in an attack on the residential compound of Bristow Helicopters, a contractor for ExxonMobil, in Akwa Ibom State. Two additional attacks on Shell facilities, one on a barge near the Sambreiro River and a second by armed youths on a boat near Shell's Abuloma Yard in Rivers State, occurred on October 2. Shell reported twenty-one civilians, unaccounted for after the October 2 incident, had been located. Post knows of no American citizens involved in the kidnappings or attacks. Officers in Abuja and Lagos remain in contact with their counterparts to urge restraint and to deter, to the extent possible, any spread of violent activity. End Summary. Residential Compound Attacked, 7 Expats Kidnapped -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Eight expatriates, including four from the United Kingdom, two from Malaysia, one from Romania and one from India, were kidnapped in an attack on a residential compound belonging to an aviation service contractor for ExxonMobil in Esa Akpan, near Eket in Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday, October ¶3. A group calling themselves the "Niger Delta Students Fighters" is suspected of the attack, but no militant group has as yet claimed responsibility. The incident occurred while the expatriates were in the bar located at the compound. Three unknown Nigerians reportedly entered the bar and attempted to join the expatriates. At approximately 9:00 PM, three additional unknown males entered, joined the first three individuals, then began shooting. Reporting indicates two contract security guards were killed and the expatriates were taken hostage. According to Udom Inoyo, Executive Director of Mobil Producing Nigeria, Governor Attah of Akwa Ibom has been briefed on the incident, and the company is looking to the Nigerian Government to take the lead in resolving the incident. According to the British High Commissioner, President Obasanjo has tasked Governor Attah with establishing an ad-hoc security team to resolve the kidnappings. The Deputy High Commissioner also stated there had been a ranson demand of USD 10 million and the demand was made on a phone belonging to one of the hostages. Beyond that, there is no proof that the demandees are the actual kidnappers. More Attacks on Shell in Rivers State -------------- ¶3. (C) Shell's Regional External Affairs Manager Olav Lijosne said a barge near the Sambreiro River was attacked at 1:40 PM Tuesday October 3. Four Nigerians were killed and one injured in the incident. ¶4. (C) Lijosne confirmed that, in a second October 3 incident, armed youths attacked army personnel accompanying a Shell boat returning to the Abuloma Yard after a crew change. The incident, which occurred around 2:20 PM, resulted in serious injuries to one person, and light injuries to three persons. 21 Nigerians Returned -------------- ¶5. (C) Lijosne also reported that twenty-one Nigerian civilians unaccounted for in the Monday, October 2 incident were released around 8:00 AM Wednesday, October 4. Lijosne said that the number, which may include JTF boat operators, is fewer than the number reported unaccounted for (25). LAGOS 00001254 002 OF 002 Speedboat Purchases May Mean Other Attacks -------------- ¶6. (C) RSO indicates that purchases of speedboats by militants have been reported; additional attacks in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states are feared. ¶7. (C) Comment: Heretofore, Akwa Ibom has been a redoubt of safety and relatively good security for ExxonMobil and its contractors. However, this latest event means Akwa Ibom is no longer detached from the turmoil in the rest of the Niger Delta. Moreover, going into the residential compound represents increased boldness on the part of the kidnappers. Or perhaps they realized the operation would have a high chance of success because security would be lax since there has been no really significant militant activity in the area. That the local guards were killed is disquieting. If the Akwa Ibom attacks are in any manner linked to the attacks in Rivers State, we may be seeing a new chapter unfolding where the militants are much more ready to employ lethal force against Nigerian military and security personnel. Again, this could precipitate a backlash by the GON. Officers in Abuja and Lagos remain in contact with their counterparts to urge restraint and to deter, to the extent possible, any spread of violent activity. BROWNE