OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #15

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000098

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: 01/24/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER KHLS PINR ETRD CASC NI
SUBJECT: OIL WORKER HOSTAGE UPDATE SITREP #15

REF: A. LAGOS 90 AND PREVIOUS

B. ABUJA 120

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

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Ecodrill Country Manager Peter Quiatkowski's
intermediaries provided photos and audio of Nigel
Watson-Clarke from their visit to the kidnappers' camp.
Morale of their young yet heavily-armed captors may be waning
in the face of the arrest of their two leaders and fear that
a big payoff may not be forthcoming. Mission, UK, and
industry representatives plan to further develop this line of
communication. The British plan to organize a family appeal
through the media for Watson-Clarke and recommends the USG do
the same for Landry. Bayelsa state officials continue to
offer increasingly less credible assurances that the
hostages' release is imminent. Mission is pursuing
suggestions Delta State officials could be in touch with the
hostage takers. Mission remains on alert to support their
repatriation while continuing to pursue all promising leads.
End summary.

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HOSTAGE WELFARE UPDATE:
INTERMEDIARIES RETURN WITH HOSTAGE PHOTOS, AUDIO,...
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2. (C) Quiatkowski provided additional information from the
two intermediaries who visited the kidnap gang's camp, now
reported to be at a local religious shrine at Escravos, close
to Okpopo, Delta State. The intermediaries claim the
hostages have been held at this site before. Quiatkowski
does not know the intermediaries' names. He describes one as
confident and older, possibly in his forties, with a claimed
association to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, who
says he is assisting with the crisis for altruistic reasons.
The other is younger, nervous, and seems more concerned about
the monetary reward for his assistance.


3. (C) The intermediaries returned with two photographs on a
camera phone of the UK hostage, Nigel Watson-Clarke. One
photograph is a close-up with little other discernible
detail, but the second shows trees and sand in the
background. Data on the phone confirms that the photographs
were taken on Sunday, January 22.


4. (C) The intermediaries also deleted several photographs
before returning it to Quiatkowski, possibly because the
photos contain images that reveal information about the
hostages' location. The data may be recoverable and the
phone has been turned over to the FBI to be taken to the US
for analysis.


5. (C) The intermediaries recorded two audio clips during
their visit, which Ecodrill confirms as Watson-Clarke's
voice. In the first clip, played for us over the telephone,
Watson-Clarke's voice is clear and distinct, though he sounds
nervous. He confirms that his name is Nigel Watson-Clarke,
he is British, and that he knows Peter Quiatkowski and sees
him in Lagos. In the second, not heard by Acting Pol-Econ
Chief, he is described as sounding more confused, and there
is considerable background noise resembling youths raised
voices as well as a ship's horn. The horn is of particular
interest, as Tidex personnel report ships in the area use
horns rarely around Escravos, but their use is more likely in
oil or liquid natural gas export terminals.

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...AND INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CAPTORS
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6. (C) The intermediaries claimed the hostages were all fine
but responded vaguely when asked explicitly if they had seen
all four hostages. They reported eighty-three captors, and
described them as "...just small boys," but heavily armed.
The group is now led by someone referred to as the "Commander
General," since the two original leaders have been arrested,
but it is unclear whether the intermediaries have been
speaking to the Commander General or a rank-and-file member.


7. (C) The youths confirmed delivery of the medicine, but
say it was given to a "doctor" instead of to the hostages.
The youths report the captors are concerned the medicine may
be poison, sent to kill the hostages, and so justify military
action against the group.

8. (C) The two report there were no discussions of monetary
demands for the hostages' release, and say the captors' claim
they have not been in contact with the Bayelsa State
government. They asked for approximately $11,000 in
transport and "sitting fees" for another trip to the
encampment, along with approximately $3,500 and certain food
items as a goodwill gesture for the community which is
hosting the group. (Comment: In Nigeria this size of
payment is more commensurate with "dash" or a payoff for
services rendered, than a hostage ransom, for which demands
might start in the millions of dollars. End comment.)


9. (C) The intermediaries further claimed they could
negotiate Nigel Watson-Clarke's release, but when this was
suggested to Watson-Clarke he declined, unwilling to leave
the others.


10. (C) The intermediaries report some discontent in the
militia camp. While the group was well-equipped and supplied
at the beginning of the crisis, they have not received any
additional funds or provisions since it began. Their two
leaders were arrested, and there was growing concern that
they may not get anything else out of the crime. (Comment:
This seems to confirm that at least the first two arrests
made were in fact leaders of the kidnap gang. Both the
intermediaries and POL Counselor report the name of one of
the arrested as resembling "Boro Tutu." End Comment).


11. (C) Acting Consul General, Acting Pol-Econ Chief, and
FBI met with the British Deputy High Commissioner, Scotland
Yard, and representatives from Tidex and Ecodrill to discuss
how to follow-up on the line of communication Peter
Quiatkowski has established through the two intermediaries to
GON.

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BRITISH SUGGEST FAMILY APPEALS THROUGH MEDIA
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12. (C) Scotland Yard believe appeals for mercy from the
hostages' families could be beneficial to the hostages'
morale and well-being and BBC and British press will develop
one from Nigel Watson Clark's family. Scotland Yard suggests
that USG do the same for Mr. Landry.

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FIERY MEETING WITH CONFIDENT BAYELSA NEGOTIATORS...
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13. (C) Econoff reports the Executive Committee coordinated
a meeting with their five negotiators: George Timinimi
("former" FNDIC member, now oil company consultant);
Hendricks Opukeme (Ijaw Youth Council, NDDC); Kennedy Orubebe
(Ijaw Youth Council, NDDC); Jane Alekioc (former SSS); and
the chair, Chief Joshua Benamaisia (former chair, Ijaw
National Congress). None of the five negotiators have seen
the hostages, instead working through "link men" who in turn
communicate to the captors.


14. (C) The meeting mainly consisted of the negotiators
airing their views on the crisis. Two of the negotiators,
joined by Bayelsa Deputy Governor Ebibi, delivered a hostile
diatribe condemning the US and UK for allowing the oil
companies to ruin the Niger Delta. The other negotiators
were either neutral or supportive of US and UK interests, but
they clearly deferred to the hostile group.


15. (C) The group exuded more confidence than in the
previous meeting, and were certain the crisis would be
resolved by tonight. The Secretary to the Bayelsa State
Government (SSG) said the negotiators had come to a consensus
and would be meeting with the "link men" early this morning
to work out remaining details of the hostages release.
However, when asked to provide details about the anticipated
release of the hostages, the negotiators deferred to the
Governor, who was not present.
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...BUT NEW DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR CREDIBILITY
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16. (C) Meeting in Warri, Delta State, POL Counselor sources
confirm the lack of direct contact between the Bayelsa
negotiators and the kidnappers, raising some question whether
they are even in contact. POL Counselor reported efforts
through the Delta SSG had not been very productive up to now,
but could prove more fruitful than Bayelsa contacts; this
course is still being worked.


17. (C) A Shell member of the crisis response team also
doubts the Bayelsa team's veracity. Bayelsa Governor
Goodluck Jonathan told a reliable contact of his that he had
been personally threatened by the militia group holding the
hostages. The contact assessed Jonathan as clearly out of
his depth. The militia groups had been on former Governor
Alamieyeseigha's payroll, so Jonathan has no credibility or
standing with the militias.


18. (C) Econoff has learned that the photograph provided by
the Bayelsa governor on Sunday was not obtained by either
MSND or the five negotiators. The Bayelsa SSG stated that he
contacted a separate individual named "Friday" who claimed
connection to the militia group went to their camp to take
the photo, possibly while their leader was away.

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MEDIA REPORTS
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19. (U) Reuters reported Delta SSS Director Adebayo Babalola
announced that two suspects in the kidnapping were arrested,
but print media reported three arrests made so far, confirmed
by POL Counselor. Six suspects have been sought by the SSS
since this weekend.


20. (U) Media also report large numbers of Ijaws leaving
their homes in the creeks and seeking refuge in Warri,
Yenagoa, and Port Harcourt. The refugees fear the military,
reportedly building up in the area, may resort to force to
resolve the crisis, and they could be caught in the crossfire.

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NEW DETAILS ABOUT LIBERTY SERVICE ATTACK
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21. (C) FBI forensics experts have uncovered additional
details about the January 11 attack on the Liberty Service.
Evidence and interviews reveal it was a very brutal attack,
with the attackers forcefully manhandling the crew. Previous
reports critical of Navy security personnel locking
themselves inside the ship for their own protection now
appear somewhat justified, as witnesses stated that the
attackers were purposely looking for the security personnel
to kill them.

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COMMENT
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22. (C) Mission remains prepared to provide full assistance
in the event the hostages are released tonight, as predicted
by the Bayelsa negotiating team. However, evidence
supporting even indirect contact with those holding the
hostages is weak. We continue to investigate additional
sources of information and lines of communication to effect
their release. End comment.
HOWE