OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #11

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000080 SIPDIS NOFORN 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 #11 REF: A. LAGOS 74 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. ABUJA 76 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) -------------- Hostage Welfare Update -------------- ¶1. (C) Overnight, the reporters for Reuters and Bloomberg received information from "oil industry sources" that AMCIT Pat Landry died. The Reuters reporter, through direct contact with kidnappers, later confirmed that the report was false. Although neither the Reuters or Bloomberg journalist published this information it appears this rumor did make it into media reports, which were in turn picked up by the Landry family. ¶2. (C) Post now has access to the kidnappers' email traffic and analysis is underway. In a communication dated January 20, the kidnappers indicated that AMCIT Landry's health is OK, and that his complaint is more about the harsh delta conditions, rather than a specific health condition. ¶3. (C) The FBI has requested should there be any bad news regarding the AMCIT, Tidewater and others should delay in relaying that information to AMCIT's wife until the FBI liaison is physically present in her house. Tidewater accepted this request. ¶4. (C) Delivery of medicine to hostages is still pending. Shell is developing various plans for delivery of medicine through several sources; the next attempt is scheduled for 1/21. -------------- Threats and Militant Activity Continue -------------- ¶5. (C) The Martyrs Brigade claimed in a press release to have blown up a pipeline between Adowawa and a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot along Agbar Road in Benin City. The press relase was signed by Cynthia Whyte, a well-known figure who, in the past has been spokeswoman for Dokubo Asari. An explosion was confirmed by Shell, but NNPC stated the attempt was not successful, and a police bomb squad had dismantled the bomb. -------------- GON Requests USG Assistance -------------- ¶6. (C) In a January 20 meeting, the govenor of Bayelsa State, Jonathan Goodluck officially invited the USG and HMG to deploy its experts to Yenogoa in an effort to strengthen the GON's response to the crisis. HMG indicated they will provide institutional and operational planning support to the government committee. In this meeting, British High Commissioner emphasized the importance of the hostage's safety. The governor agreed and noted that this kidnapping was unique because the kidnappers appeared to have a political agenda and that they operated in three states. The meeting revealed the continuing disorganization on the GON side. The full committee, set up three days previously, has not yet met but plans to do so this afternoon. Minister of Petroleum Resources Daukoro met with the govenor on the same day. The point of contact is Ambassador G.B. Igali. ¶7. (C) Minister Daukuro asked LegAtt for any information that would help with the investigation and negotiations. He offered to link FBI with State Security Service (SSS) contacts in Bayelsa State and to discuss USG assistance to the SSS. -------------- -------------- Alamieyeseigha Cut Off, Another Negotiation Team Forms -------------- -------------- ¶8. (U) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will meet today to discuss detention conditions of Alemesighya. Until recently he had access to cell phones, despite long and well established links to militants operating in the region. ¶9. (U) An NGO, headed by an AMCIT, appears to be forming another committee to get involved in the negotiations. One of the potential members, Oronto Douglas, told ConGen PolSpec he was hesitant to agree because the identity of the negotiator for the kidnappers was unknown, the kidnappers' motivations and tactics were new, and he felt the hostages would need to be released before any real political negotiations could start. -------------- Tidex Regroups, Leads Hostage Response Team -------------- ¶10. (C) Tidex has developed a draft response to communications from kidnappers. The response may go out January 21. McNee requested full involvement from the USG in repatriation efforts for the hostages once released. Contact information for ACS officers Steve Kovacscics and John Marcinek was provided. ¶11. (C) Senior Tidewater Vice President Reg McNee said the Liberty Service would not/not return to operation any time soon. He said that, given employees' safety concerns, the company was having significant trouble getting employees to stay in Nigeria and that they were experiencing some change-over in Nigeria management positions. ¶12. (SBU) The Shell crisis team, which has acted as the operations center for securing the release of the hostages, relocated from Warri to Lagos. Tidewater VP McNee and Ecodrill Country Director Peter Qwiatowski will chair the committee. Membership was streamlined for more efficient information flow and action. Shell refused leadership of the new committee, citing liability concerns and arguing Shell is not the direct employer of the kidnap victims. Additionally, Shell pointed out their negative image among Ijaw communities and the political nature of these kidnappings pointed toward Tidex leading the committee. However, Shell will host the center and promised to provide all available resources. ¶13. (U) This cable is a joint Embassy-consulate cable. HOWE