SITREP 12 & NIGER DELTA ROUNDUP: 31 IN CAPTIVITY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000100 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH SAO PAULO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON DOE FOR GPERSON, CGAY TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2017 TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL SUBJECT: SITREP 12 & NIGER DELTA ROUNDUP: 31 IN CAPTIVITY, 60 SINCE JANUARY 1, 2007 REF: A. LAGOS 91 ¶B. LAGOS 38 LAGOS 00000100 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and ( D) ¶1. (C) Summary. This is an update on kidnappings and militant attacks in southern Nigeria in 2007. Approximately 31 hostages are currently being held in the Niger Delta. American citizen Bill Graham remains a captive and is the only American currently being held. Roughly sixty individuals have been kidnapped this year; 26 have been released. Two expatriates have died. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On February 9, John Walker of Control Risks Group told the Pivot-GIS Hostage Crisis Group American citizen Bill Graham and Nigerian national Ezekiel Akwa remain hostages. Walker said Governor Peter Odili and the Director of Rivers State Security Service (SSS),Alhaji Kola Adeshina, are both in Port Harcourt. (REF A) Walker said British national Neil Mirrlees, released February 7, has chosen to remain in Port Harcourt until Graham's release. During a February 8 telephone conversation, Governor Odili assured the Consul General that he actively was working with State Security Service to obtain Graham's release. While optimistic, he refused to predict when the release would happen. He was confident Graham remained unharmed and in good health. ¶3. (C) French national Gerard Laporal was abducted in Port Harcourt on February 7. He remains in captivity. Laporal has been a contractor for oil major Total for over ten years. ¶4. (C) A Filipino woman abducted on February 7 in Port Harcourt was reportedly found dead the following day. The details of her kidnapping and death are unclear. ¶5. (C) A Filipino worker for Shell Petroleum Development Company was taken hostage near the Owerri airport on February ¶6. He remains in captivity. ¶6. (C) On January 25, nine Chinese workers conducting seismic testing and drilling for Shell were abducted in Bayelsa State. They were released on February 4. ¶7. (C) Twenty-four Filipino workers were kidnapped from a German Baco-liner cargo vessel headed towards Warri, Delta State on January 20. They remain in captivity. The Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC) is likely responsible for this attack, effectively breaking the informal cessation of activities FNDIC had obeyed since March ¶2006. (REF B) ¶8. (C) On January 16, one Dutchman and one Joint Task Force (JTF) soldier were killed when militants attacked a boat in Rivers State carrying Hyundai employees. Four JTF were also wounded. ¶9. (C) Twelve Nigerians, including 4 chiefs, were killed when a speed boat was attacked by militants in Rivers State on January 14. Following this attack, Shell evacuated two oil facilities in the area and the military boosted troop LAGOS 00000100 002.2 OF 002 levels. ¶10. (C) Nine South Koreans and one Nigerian were kidnapped from a residential Daewoo base in Bayelsa on January 10. All were released two days later. ¶11. (C) On January 7 a JTF Naval Patrol came under militant attack in Rivers State while on routine patrol; 2 Nigerian naval personnel were abducted. ¶12. (C) Five Chinese telecommunication employees were taken hostage on January 5 in Rivers State. They were released on January 17. ¶13. (C) Three Italian nationals and one Lebanese national working for Agip were taken hostage in Bayelsa State on December 7, 2006. Italian citizen Roberto Dieghi was released on January 17 due to poor health. Two Italians and the Lebanese remain in captivity. BROWNE