OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #21 - HOSTAGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000126 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: 01/29/2016 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #21 - HOSTAGES RELEASED REF: LAGOS 125 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) ¶1. (C) The four oil service company hostages held for almost three weeks have been released. Post was informed at five a.m. this morning that the quartet was released and in Yenagoa. Conoff has seen and spoken with them. The former hostages appear to be in decent health. Amcit Landry was in good spirits and eager to go home. Mr. Landry has spoken to his family in the U.S. ¶2. (C) According to GON officials in Yenagoa, President Obasanjo has requested to see the released hostages in Abuja. Reports indicate the four freed workers will be flown to Port Harcourt, where they will board a presidential jet for Abuja to meet the President. Conoff will accompany the hostages and additional Embassy personnel will also meet and assist upon the group's arrival in Abuja. A Shell jet will go to Warri, Delta State, to pick-up the workers' belongings and take them to the workers to Abuja. ¶3. (U) For London: Current plans are for Landry and the others to travel to London upon leaving Nigeria. We do not have the details of the program the GON has prepared for the former hostages in Abuja. We assume they will overnight in the Nigerian capital and thus may leave by tomorrow, most likely by commercial aircraft. As soon as we know travel arrangements, we will inform Washington and London. Legatt Lagos will be in contact with Embassy London to arrange debriefs of Landry. Lagos Consular Section will also contact the London Consular Section regarding meet and assist as necessary. BROWNE