NIGERIA: HOSTAGE-TAKING, SITREP # 27

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000401 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: 03/16/2016 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER CASC NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: HOSTAGE-TAKING, SITREP # 27 REF: LAGOS 391 Classified By: Acting Political/Economic Chief Shannon Ross for reasons 1.4 (D/E). -------------- Hostage Welfare Update -------------- ¶1. (C) Shell sources said NGO leader Judy Asuni confirmed family letters were sent to the hostage-takers. Willbros and Shell are gathering another package of medicines and will contact Asuni to facilitate their delivery. Shell and Willbros are also sending in colorful t-shirts and hats, to boost the hostages' morale and also provide definitive proof, should the hostages be photographed in the clothing, that Asuni's interlocutors are successfully delivering the items. ¶2. (C) Willbros representatives reported the Oswalt family was disappointed by the content of Macon Hawkins' interview on CNN. Willbros is considering using Joe Eaton, a Willbros employee previously held hostage in Ecuador for four months before being released, to visit the hostages' families to boost morale. -------------- Hostage Negotiations -------------- ¶3. (C) Delta State Secretary t the State Government (SSG) Uduaghan told FEST officer the hostages' release continues to be delayed because the militants are unconvinced by the GON assurances of no reprisals, and more time needs to pass for the militants to accept them. Uduaghan also admitted the Ijaw leaders communique delivered over the weekend had no impact on the hostage takers, who say the communique says nothing new. However, despite having no evidence to support the claim, Uduaghan asserted the hostages would be released by Monday at the latest, to avoid impacting the upcoming national census. ¶4. (C) Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka offered to deliver messages from the USG to the hostage-takers (septel). He said he was in contact with the hostage-takers and would be meeting with one of their representatives in Enugu Saturday, March 18. -------------- Bank Robbery -------------- ¶5. (C) Control Risks Group reported an armed robbery of Diamond Bank at Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) Onne, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 10-15 heavily-armed men in military uniforms entered the compound by bus, shooting indiscriminately. The attackers went to the Diamond Bank onsite and removed an undisclosed sum of money before shooting their way to a boat pre-positioned at the FOT waterside and making their escape, taking one wounded attacker with them. Two security personnel were also wounded. (Comment: Control Risks Group assessed this as a well-executed attack conducted with military precision by heavily armed attackers with little fear of opposition or reprisal, "in line" with tactics employed by MEND in other recent attacks. However, we as yet have no specific evidence the attack was carried out by MEND. End comment.) -------------- Energy Update -------------- ¶6. (C) The Exxon Mobil Government Affairs officer in Abuja told Polcouns they are taking the 21-day ultimatum issued by the Martyrs' Brigade last week very seriously and are considering ways to reach out to the militants to avoid trouble at their facilities. LAGOS 00000401 002 OF 002 -------------- Military Update -------------- ¶7. (C) There were no significant military developments. -------------- Media Update -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The media reported the possibility of the hostages' release within 48 hours as a result of a deal between MEND and the Ijaw Your Leaders' Forum, which issued the communique earlier this week. The reports added that the release was also in response to news that JTF commander BG Elias Zamani was being replaced. The Daily Independent reported Delta-oriented remarks from the Ambassador's press conference on Thursday, citing USG concern for the people there and support for accelerating assistance, provided the hostages are released and no others are taken. The Ambassador also denied receiving a request from the GON for military assistance. -------------- Consular Update -------------- ¶9. (C) There have been no reports of additional attacks on AmCits. One mission Conoff and one FEST member are 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