NIGERIA: HOSTAGE-TAKING, SITREP # 22

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000367 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: 03/10/2016 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: HOSTAGE-TAKING, SITREP # 22 REF: LAGOS 366 Classified By: Acting Political/Economic Chief Shannon Ross for reasons 1.4 (D/E). -------------- Hostage Welfare Update -------------- ¶1. (C) Conoff received a call from AmCit hostage Cody Oswalt last night. Oswalt's identity was confirmed through his correct identification of the last statement he made to AmCit Macon Hawkins before his release last week. Oswalt said he and the two other hostages were in good health and were being well treated. Conoff later heard from Oswalt's grandfather that the hostage-takers allowed Oswalt to call him directly, after speaking to Conoff. -------------- Hostage Negotiations -------------- ¶2. (C) Delta State Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Emmanuel Uduaghan told Conoff the remaining issue delaying the hostages' release is the militants' mistrust in the GON to make good on its promise of no reprisals. The SSG said Delta State personnel were continuing at work over the weekend in case of new developments. -------------- -------------- Energy Update: Additional Attacks on Shell Facilities -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Shell contacts reported additional attacks on the Odidi pipeline and Batan flowstation last night. Personnel had already been evacuated from the two facilities, and the attacks will not disrupt any additional production. Due to security concerns Shell can only assess the damage through overflights, which Shell hopes to do soon. ¶4. (C) Sources reported the massing of 50 to 80 boats filled with 500-800 armed men moving out of the Forcados area. There were conflicting reasons given for the gathering, with some sources saying it was a funeral procession, others claiming the group was staging for future attacks, and still others said the men were "no longer needed for operations in this area." Military contacts claimed to have no information concerning the concentration of canoes, but did report a buildup of militants in Okerenkoko and Camp Five. Shell claimed the boats are still in the creeks. ¶5. (C) ConocoPhillips (COP) Managing Director Creeger confirmed AGIP, which operates the joint venture in which COP has financial interests, closed down a pipeline which carries about 10,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Shell's Forcados Export Terminal. COP explained Shell requested the shut-down because tanker facilities at Forcados are full and cannot accept additional crude; with the Forcados crude loading platform still inoperable, stored crude cannot be vacated from the tanks. These 10,000 bpd shut-in are subsumed in the approximately 400,000 bpd already lost with damage to the Forcados crude loading platform, and do not represent additional lost production. -------------- Military Update -------------- ¶6. (C) New JTF Commander BG A.A. Ilogho is expected to arrive in Warri tomorrow. Meanwhile, outgoing Commander BG Zamani was back in Warri, preparing to hand over to his successor next week. -------------- Media Update -------------- LAGOS 00000367 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) A leading daily reiterated yesterday's threat against Exxon Mobil facilities within 21 days if compensation for the 1998 oil spill was not paid. The daily also claimed MEND was planning to move eastwards, and also attack AGIP and Total. -------------- Consular Update -------------- ¶8. (C) There have been no reports of additional attacks on AmCits. One mission Conoff is in Warri monitoring negotiations and prepared to assist with repatriation. The UK also has a consular officer in Warri to monitor negotiations and assist with repatriation. The head of Shell Security is on standby for repatriation assistance. HOWE