Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAGOS61
2006-01-19 07:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:  

OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #7

Tags:  EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000061 

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 ETRD CASC NI
SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #7

REF: A. ABUJA 76

B. LAGOS 54 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Acting Consul General William H. Howe for Reasons 1.4 (D
& E)

--------------------------------------------- -------------
Warri Crisis Management Team Says Negotiations are Ongoing
--------------------------------------------- -------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000061

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 ETRD CASC NI
SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #7

REF: A. ABUJA 76

B. LAGOS 54 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Acting Consul General William H. Howe for Reasons 1.4 (D
& E)

-------------- --------------
Warri Crisis Management Team Says Negotiations are Ongoing
-------------- --------------


1. (C) Guy Colgate, Head of Shell's Crisis Management Team
in Warri, said the GON was giving the kidnappers cigarettes,
money, and alcohol as gestures of good will and to ensure
they will not harm the captives. He said the GON describe
daily interaction with the captors and an open line of
communication. They were certain that the two-day deadline
given on January 16 was not directed at the hostages.


2. (C) Barrister Dixon, the GON's current negotiator with
the kidnappers, confirmed the GON was providing these items
to the kidnappers in a private conversation with Legatt.
Dixon said no contact, however, had been made with the
hostages, and after a request from Legatt, he said he would
ask the kidnappers for some direct communication with the
hostages in reciprocation for good faith efforts. In the
meantime, the GON has sent large numbers of military patrols
to the Delta and Bayelsa creek areas to make it more
difficult for the kidnappers to move around.

-------------- --------------
Another Threat, Shell Releases Kidnappers E-mail Address
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) Another e-mail threat, this time sent to Shell
anonymously, claims that three American workers from the
Warri, Delta State area will be kidnapped. Shell sent ConGen
Lagos a copy through new security advisor Richard Garcia.
Unconfirmed reports also indicate that there were problems
with Shell's evacuation of their remaining staff from the
Odidi flowstation.


4. (SBU) Shell Vice-President Ian McCredie released the
following e-mail address from the kidnappers:
ha izon@yahoo.com. He said they have been continuously
changing e-mail addresses by randomly varrying the first two
letters. McCredie is expected to come to Nigeria to raise
Shell's commitment to getting the hostages released.

-------------- --------------
Tidex and Ecodrill Will Send Letter to Kidnappers
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Based on advice from Scotland Yard and FBI
negotiators, Tidex and Ecodrill representatives drafted a
letter requesting information on the health of the hostages
and permission to send them medical supplies. The letter
recognizes the demands of the kidnappers and says they are
being discussed. The letter will be sent to Reuters
correspondent Tom Ashby as well as to the e-mail addresses
provided by Shell and used in the first Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) communication.


6. (SBU) Ecodrill sent their Country Manager back to Warri,
and the British Consul General Lagos will speak with the
Bayelsa State Governor on January 20 to appeal for more
urgency and transparency. The British mission has been in
contact with the Bulgarian Ambassador in Abuja, and ConGen
Lagos has contacted and updated Ivan Romero, the Honduran
attache in London, who is handling the situation.
HOWE