Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAGOS124
2007-02-15 14:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
SITREP 16: SSS OPENS NEW LINE OF COMMUNICATION
how-toVZCZCXRO8993 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0124 0461449 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151449Z FEB 07 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8529 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 8358 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0156 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ PRIORITY 0136 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 0139 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO PRIORITY 0153 RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000124
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: 02/15/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 16: SSS OPENS NEW LINE OF COMMUNICATION
REF: LAGOS 116
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000124
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: 02/15/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 16: SSS OPENS NEW LINE OF COMMUNICATION
REF: LAGOS 116
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)
1. (C) Pivot-GIS employees American Bill Graham and Nigerian
Ezekiel Akwa remain hostages. John Walker of Control Risks
Group told the February 15 Pivot-GIS Hostage Crisis Group he
met the Director of Rivers State Security Service (SSS),
Alhaji Kola Adeshina, on February 14. Adeshina informed
Walker that he opened another line of communication with a
local Ijaw elder who was once involved in hostage-taking.
The elder is respected by militant leader Prince Igodu, who
is purportedly behind this kidnapping. Adeshina said this
elder will meet Prince Igodu in hopes of persuading him to
release the hostages quickly and only for the modest payment
that will probably be termed a facilitator fee or cost.
According to Walker, the elder assured SSS the hostages are
fine; Walker passed SSS proof of life questions on February
14 to confirm this.
2. (C) Walker said Phillipa Graham is calm and has backed
off her threat to approach the media--for now. On February
14, she confided to Walker that following her husband's
abduction she had contacted Golden, a youth leader in the
Minikpiti village where Pivot-GIS is located. Golden
purportedly confirmed Prince Igodu had engineered the
kidnapping. Golden said he could secure the hostages'
release for naira 2 million (approximately USD 15,625). Mrs.
Graham did not accept this offer. Walker told the Hostage
Crisis Group he heard Golden previously had a falling out
with Bill Graham regarding a naira 2.5 million demand he
presented Graham allegedly on behalf of the community.
Graham refused to pay the sum.
3. (C) Comment: It appears the SSS has stepped up its
efforts to secure Graham's release. Using the local elder as
an alternate line of communication is an example of this
effort. It will take a few days to determine if this new
avenue will bear fruit. End Comment.
BROWNE
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: 02/15/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 16: SSS OPENS NEW LINE OF COMMUNICATION
REF: LAGOS 116
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)
1. (C) Pivot-GIS employees American Bill Graham and Nigerian
Ezekiel Akwa remain hostages. John Walker of Control Risks
Group told the February 15 Pivot-GIS Hostage Crisis Group he
met the Director of Rivers State Security Service (SSS),
Alhaji Kola Adeshina, on February 14. Adeshina informed
Walker that he opened another line of communication with a
local Ijaw elder who was once involved in hostage-taking.
The elder is respected by militant leader Prince Igodu, who
is purportedly behind this kidnapping. Adeshina said this
elder will meet Prince Igodu in hopes of persuading him to
release the hostages quickly and only for the modest payment
that will probably be termed a facilitator fee or cost.
According to Walker, the elder assured SSS the hostages are
fine; Walker passed SSS proof of life questions on February
14 to confirm this.
2. (C) Walker said Phillipa Graham is calm and has backed
off her threat to approach the media--for now. On February
14, she confided to Walker that following her husband's
abduction she had contacted Golden, a youth leader in the
Minikpiti village where Pivot-GIS is located. Golden
purportedly confirmed Prince Igodu had engineered the
kidnapping. Golden said he could secure the hostages'
release for naira 2 million (approximately USD 15,625). Mrs.
Graham did not accept this offer. Walker told the Hostage
Crisis Group he heard Golden previously had a falling out
with Bill Graham regarding a naira 2.5 million demand he
presented Graham allegedly on behalf of the community.
Graham refused to pay the sum.
3. (C) Comment: It appears the SSS has stepped up its
efforts to secure Graham's release. Using the local elder as
an alternate line of communication is an example of this
effort. It will take a few days to determine if this new
avenue will bear fruit. End Comment.
BROWNE