Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAGOS128
2007-02-16 15:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
SITREP 17: GRAHAM & AKWA STILL HOSTAGE; SSS AWAITS
how-toVZCZCXRO0387 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0128 0471552 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161552Z FEB 07 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8533 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 8361 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0157 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ PRIORITY 0137 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 0140 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO PRIORITY 0154 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 000128
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: 02/16/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 17: GRAHAM & AKWA STILL HOSTAGE; SSS AWAITS
ELDER'S RETURN
REF: A. LAGOS 124
B. LAGOS 110
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 000128
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: 02/16/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 17: GRAHAM & AKWA STILL HOSTAGE; SSS AWAITS
ELDER'S RETURN
REF: A. LAGOS 124
B. LAGOS 110
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)
1. (C) John Walker of Control Risks Group told the February
16 Pivot-GIS Hostage Crisis Group American Bill Graham and
Nigerian Ezekiel Akwa remain hostages. The State Security
Service (SSS) told Walker on February 15 they will wait for
the return from the creek area of the tribal elder who is now
acting as an intermediary between the SSS and the kidnappers.
SSS is hopeful the elder will emerge with an agreement for
the release of Graham and Akwa (REF A) before attempting to
pass Graham and Akwa's proof of life questions. Should the
elder return with an agreement, Governor Odili will need to
ratify it but the Governor will be unavailable this weekend,
according to SSS. The Pivot-GIS group requested our help to
contact the Governor to ensure he can be reached during the
weekend. We have been attempting to contact the Governor's
office to ascertain his thoughts on the hostage negotiations
and to inform him of the company's concerns that he remain
accessible over the weekend.
2. (C) Walker said the SSS speculated the hope for a
pre-Valentine's Day release was trumped by the "Red Alert" in
Port Harcourt. (Note: SSS did not explain "Red Alert,"
though it likely refers to the increased military presence in
the area. (REF B) End Note.) Nor did SSS believe the
abduction of a Frenchman February 7 complicated this case
because a different group was responsible for that
kidnapping. SSS could not confirm Prince Igodu engineered
the kidnapping, Walker said, but commented Igodu has
"tentacles everywhere." (Note: There are several variations
on the spelling of Prince Igodu's name, including Igodo and
Igido. End Note.)
3. (C) Walker also told the group Phillipa Graham, Bill
Graham's wife, became angry when Walker told her Graham would
not likely be released over the weekend. She was adamant the
state government was "playing tricks" and talked about
involving Golden, a youth leader in the Minikpiti village
where Pivot-GIS is located. (REF A) In the end, Walker said
he prevailed on Mrs. Graham to wait to see what transpires
over the weekend.
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: 02/16/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 17: GRAHAM & AKWA STILL HOSTAGE; SSS AWAITS
ELDER'S RETURN
REF: A. LAGOS 124
B. LAGOS 110
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)
1. (C) John Walker of Control Risks Group told the February
16 Pivot-GIS Hostage Crisis Group American Bill Graham and
Nigerian Ezekiel Akwa remain hostages. The State Security
Service (SSS) told Walker on February 15 they will wait for
the return from the creek area of the tribal elder who is now
acting as an intermediary between the SSS and the kidnappers.
SSS is hopeful the elder will emerge with an agreement for
the release of Graham and Akwa (REF A) before attempting to
pass Graham and Akwa's proof of life questions. Should the
elder return with an agreement, Governor Odili will need to
ratify it but the Governor will be unavailable this weekend,
according to SSS. The Pivot-GIS group requested our help to
contact the Governor to ensure he can be reached during the
weekend. We have been attempting to contact the Governor's
office to ascertain his thoughts on the hostage negotiations
and to inform him of the company's concerns that he remain
accessible over the weekend.
2. (C) Walker said the SSS speculated the hope for a
pre-Valentine's Day release was trumped by the "Red Alert" in
Port Harcourt. (Note: SSS did not explain "Red Alert,"
though it likely refers to the increased military presence in
the area. (REF B) End Note.) Nor did SSS believe the
abduction of a Frenchman February 7 complicated this case
because a different group was responsible for that
kidnapping. SSS could not confirm Prince Igodu engineered
the kidnapping, Walker said, but commented Igodu has
"tentacles everywhere." (Note: There are several variations
on the spelling of Prince Igodu's name, including Igodo and
Igido. End Note.)
3. (C) Walker also told the group Phillipa Graham, Bill
Graham's wife, became angry when Walker told her Graham would
not likely be released over the weekend. She was adamant the
state government was "playing tricks" and talked about
involving Golden, a youth leader in the Minikpiti village
where Pivot-GIS is located. (REF A) In the end, Walker said
he prevailed on Mrs. Graham to wait to see what transpires
over the weekend.
BROWNE