OIL WORKER HOSTAGE SITUATION SITREP #4

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000048 SIPDIS STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER 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: 09/20/2015 TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR CASC NI SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE SITUATION SITREP #4 REF: LAGOS (VARIOUS) Classified By: Acting Consul General William M. Howe for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) ¶1. (C) The British High Commission, in conversation with PolCouns Abuja, confirmed the identity of the person whom Reuters correspondent Tom Ashby interviewed on January 16 as British citizen Nigel Watson Clark. During the interview, the perpetrators give a two-day deadline for complying with their demands, after which they are "no longer responsible" for what happens to the hostages. ¶2. (SBU) Shell received another letter from the group calling itself Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). The letter was sent through Reuters and threatens "to carry out an attack that will set Nigeria back 15yrs and cause incalculable losses." Shell is taking the letter seriously because it gives some accurate though vague and previously unreported details of the January 11 attack on Liberty Service. This letter, unlike the previous communication, claims the release of Asari is not one of their primary demands but they are "committed to destroying the capacity of nigeria to export oil or its products." Post will report any further contact with Reuters. ¶3. (SBU) British consular officer Maurice Harper met with the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and the head of the Bayelsa State Security Service (SSS) on January 16. The Deputy Governor said he was in continuing contact with representatives of the kidnappers and felt that a two-day timeframe for their release was realistic. He said the kidnappers considered the release of Dokubo Asari their most urgent demand and that, for 250,000 naira (about $1,800), they would allow a representative from the Joint Task Force (JTF) to see and speak with the hostages. The hostages were uninjured but were being continuously relocated and so attempts to find them would be futile. ¶4. (C) A military intelligence officer also said the kidnappers had, to this point, requested only small amounts of money and food. (Note: the Bayelsa Chief of Police commented that the JTF had already spent considerable sums of money trying to effect the release of the hostages.) The GON, he said, would quit attempting to engage the kidnappers militarily and concentrate on negotiations. ¶5. (SBU) The latest engagement occurred on January 15 at 6:30, when 60 attackers took over Shell's Benisede flowstation. One Shell employee, at least, was killed in the fray, and ten soldiers were either killed or wounded. Attackers suffered an unknown number of casualties. Reinforcements sent to the area were ambushed and eight were killed. A Shell official stated one naval OIC had been fired as a result of losses suffered in the engagement. A warden based in Warri reported as of January 16 in the morning, ambulances were continuing to bring injured people to hospitals from the airport, and other reports indicate fighting in the area continues, although specific details are not available. ¶6. (SBU) Shell reports the thirty or so expats remaining on the FPSO Sea Eagle are upset and demanding to be taken off the vessel. Shell has identifed a group from their Bonga deep sea field to replace the Sea Eagle crew if necessary but hopes to be able to negotiate a "sweeter deal" for the present crew to continue working. ¶7. (SBU) Shell will keep workers only at their deep sea sites and at their Forcados terminal, which is left with approximately 100 employees, including expats. Over 120 army, 30 navy, and 3 SSS personnel will be stationed there for security. ¶8. (SBU) Shell's Emergency Response Team identified an ex-commissioner of Bayelsa State, Mr. Zimbha, as the go-between who linked the JTF with the kidnappers. They continue to track his identity and role. ¶9. (SBU) ConGen Lagos plans to strengthen the Consular Travel Warning. The British have done likewise but limited their strengthened warnings to specific areas of the Delta. Peter Wadsworth at the DHC said the warning would be specific so that oil companies and other interests in the area would not suffer globally for conflicts occurring in limited areas. HOWE