TELECOM AND HOSTAGE CRISIS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000225

SIPDIS

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: 02/14/2031
TAGS: ECPS ECON EINV EIND PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: TELECOM AND HOSTAGE CRISIS

REF: LAGOS 137 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (D/E)

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Vmobile Assisted SSS During Hostage Crisis
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1. (S/NF) Vmobile Chief Regulatory Officer told us the
Bayelsa State Director State Security Services (SSS)
approached the company during the hostage crisis to request
data on kidnappers who were apparently using Vmobile networks
to communicate. In a series of four to five meetings with
the SSS, Vmobile disclosed private information including
telephone numbers and real-time locations of kidnappers.

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Vmobile Provided Data for Two Numbers
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2. (S/NF) Vmobile Chief Regulatory Officer J.P. Snijders told
us the Bayelsa State Director SSS Kola Adesina approached
Vmobile January 16 requesting assistance and data from
Vmobile to identify kidnappers who were apparently using
Vmobile networks for their telephone communications.
Snijders had a series of conversations with Adesina, and
provided the SSS with caller/called voice and SMS numbers
(MSISDNs),handset numbers (IMSIs),and cell phone location.
Vmobile tracked activity and identified voice and SMS for two
numbers, one used from January 16-19, and another from
January 19-24. No activity was recorded on those numbers
thereafter, Snijders said. (Note: Voice decryption is not
enabled on any Nigerian GSM mobile network. End Note).

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Kidnappers Use Temporary SIM Cards
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3. (S/NF) According to Snijders, Adesina was involved in GON
efforts to negotiate the hostage release. Adesina admitted
to Snijders that GON on the ground surveillance and detection
capacity was poor, and requested Vmobile track call locations
of two separate groups to trace their movements. According
to Snijders, the kidnappers used temporary subscriber
identification module (SIM) cards, for a limited period of
time, to cover their tracks.

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Telecom Firms Face Similar Concerns to Oil Companies
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4. (S/NF) Although not of the scale of the oil sector,
security is a serious concern for Vmobile as they have had
contractors harassed or taken hostage in the Delta region.
Snidjers said Vmobile and other companies would frequently
need to build infrastructure such as base stations in the
night to avoid being targeted by angry, unemployed youth in
the region.

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Vmobile Reports Kidnappings Politically Motivated
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5. (S/NF) Snijders' account harmonized with earlier reports
(reftels) that suggested this kidnapping was politically
motivated. Adesina told Snijders the Ijaw militants behind
the kidnapping were making a political statement to the
Federal Government and oil companies to address declining
living standards and economic challenges faced by local
communities in the Delta region.

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Comment
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6. (S/NF) In the event of another protracted crisis, cellular
telephones will likely play a key role. Consequently,

LAGOS 00000225 002 OF 002


telecom companies can also play a role as a source of
information. Vmobile has intimated that they might be
willing to share sensitive user information if sharing that
information to sources outside of Vmobile and even beyond the
GON might help resolve a future crisis. End Comment.
BROWNE