NIGERIA: HOSTAGE-TAKING, SITREP #13

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000317 SIPDIS NOFORN 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: 02/18/2016 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: HOSTAGE-TAKING, SITREP #13 REF: LAGOS 306 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Chief Shannon Ross for reasons 1.4 (D/E). -------------- Hostage Welfare Update -------------- ¶1. (C) AmCit hostage Macon Hawkins was released this evening to two foreign journalists and is currently at Delta State Governor Ibori's mansion. Econoffs are accompanying Hawkins and plan to remain with him overnight at the Shell medical clinic in Warri. Shell will bring him to Lagos tomorrow by private plane. Consulate will meet and assist Hawkins upon his return, conduct a debrief, and then return him to the United States as soon as possible. ¶2. (U) The international media reported that Hawkin's release was a humanitarian gesture by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in consideration of Hawkin's age, health, and his recent birthday. -------------- Hostage Negotiations -------------- ¶3. (C) Ibori told Econoff a full hostage release would take more time. He said no release happened over the weekend because MEND leaders were attending funeral rites for Government Ekpemukpolo's cousin. Ibori advised against involving ambassadors and high commissioners in the negotiation process, because increased international exposure would complicate the negotiations. ¶4. (C) A Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC) source told Econoff the kidnappers have three primary demands for hostage release: 1) release of Ijaw leader Dokubo Asari, 2) no military reprisals, and 3) written confirmation from Army Chief of Staff that the military would not attack Ekpemukpolo. The source told Econoff Ekpemukpolo is afraid the Nigerian army will attack the hostage-takers and he will be killed. A Delta source claimed all nine hostages would be released in the next 24 to 48 hours. ¶5. (C) President Obasanjo's spokesperson Femi Fani-Kayode told Poloff this morning the President rejected any partial release of hostages, saying he will not deal with criminals, and will only accept full release of all nine hostages. �0A; -------------- Energy Update: Shell Facilities Still Closed -------------- ¶6. (C) There is no change in the status of damaged or closed Shell facilities, and production remains reduced approximately 550,000 bpd. Shell reported the Chanomi Creek manifold was attacked again last night, but production remains unaffected because the facility had been shut down earlier. A security source told Econoff that shortly after the Chanomi incident, Ekpemukpolo's men hit a kerosene tanker ship and stole naira 700,000 (USD 5,385),but no one was reported injured. Power generation remains down by approximately 650 MW (of a total of 3200 MW nationwide) due to a damaged gas feeder line, which cannot be repaired until the security situation improves. The Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) has limited repair facilities and company representatives expect the facilities to be down for quite some time. LAGOS 00000317 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) R.J. Prabhu, CEO of West African Oilfield Services, a company with business relations with Willbros and AmCit hostage Macon Hawkin's former employer, told Acting Consul General that some members of Asari's group approached their office in Port Harcourt demanding naira five million (USD 38,462) as protection money. According to Prabhu, funding supply for Asari's militia has been drying out since his arrest; he suspects the recent kidnappings are more related to financing Asari's group than any other factor. Other security sources told Econoff the creeks were quiet and barges were operating safely. -------------- Military Update -------------- ¶8. (S) A military source reports no new movements from the Joint Task Force (JTF) to expand operations. While there was a report of a credible militant threat against JTF barracks this Saturday, this is unconfirmed. However, a senior military official commented that he was planning on moving his family from the area Friday. -------------- Media Update -------------- ¶9. (U) The media reports featured vice-president Atiku Abubakar's statement that Nigeria would turn to China for military hardware and armed patrol boats following the "slow response" of the US in curbing Niger Delta insurgencies. One newspaper reported local residents from the Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri had started moving out of the community for fear of future attacks. There have been no new media reports of Itsikiri-Ijaw fighting in the region. ¶10. (SBU) The press reported British High Commissioner to Nigeria Richard Gozney would be present during negotiations for hostage release if invited by legitimate Nigerian authorities. He was quoted as saying "naturally, if I receive a request from legitimate Nigerian authorities, I stand ready to do whatever they want me to do to help to secure the safe release of these hostages and to try to prevent further kidnappings in the Niger-Delta." -------------- Consular Update -------------- ¶11. (C) There have been no reports of additional attacks on AmCits. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶12. (C/NF) Given the official USG position of avoiding direct involvement in the hostage negotiations, British High Commissioner Richard Gozney's statement introduces a difficult new element into our attempt to present a united American and British front regarding the hostage negotiations. End comment. HOWE