SITREP 2: COMMANDER AFRICA AND MCGUYVER MAY BE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000307

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC
ZAGREB FOR AMBASSADOR BRADTKE
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAULO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON
DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY
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: 05/02/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 2: COMMANDER AFRICA AND MCGUYVER MAY BE
RESPONSIBLE

REF: A. LAGOS 303


B. 06 LAGOS 1419

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Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)


1. (C) Summary: In addition to American citizen John
Stapleton, Italian nationals Raffele Pascsariello, Alfonso
Frawza, Ignazio Gugliota, Mario Celetano and Croatian
national Juricha Ruic were abducted May 1 from a ship owned
by a supply company working for Chevron Nigeria Limited
(CNL). Chevron Chairman and Managing Director Fred Nelson,
told consulate staff that CNL sources indicated the
kidnapping was likely perpetrated by Bayelsa-based militant
leader Commander Africa and Joshua McGuyver, once affiliated
with but now at odds with militant leader Tom Polo. After
overcoming initial difficulty in acquiring contact
information, Stapleton's next of kin was contacted. End
Summary.

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Six Expatriate Hostages Identified
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2. (SBU) American citizen John Stapleton, Italian nationals
Raffele Pascsariello, Alfonso Frawza, Ignazio Gugliota, Mario
Celetano and Croatian national Juricha Ruic were kidnapped
early morning on May 1, off the shore of Bayelsa State.
Stapleton had been on rotational duty with CNL for over seven
years and is an Asset Manager. He was assigned to Chevron's
Funiwa platform up until a day prior to the kidnapping.
Ironically CNL transferred him to the ship after receiving
credible threats targeting the Funiwa platform.

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Injured Personnel Receive Medical Treatment
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3. (C) In a meeting with Legatt and Regional Security
Officer on May 1, Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron
Nigeria Limited (CNL) Fred Nelson confirmed two GON naval
ratings officers were killed in the incident. Nine other
people (five GON naval officers and four Chevron contractors,
all Nigerian nationals) sustained non-fatal injuries and were
taken to Warri for medical treatment. According to CNL,
there were 22 expatriates, including another American,
onboard the attacked vessel.

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Kidnappers May Be Commander Africa/Joshua McGuyver
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4. (C) Nelson said local contacts indicate the kidnapping
was likely perpetrated by Commander Africa and Joshua
McGuyver. Neither man is from the local community, nor does
Chevron believe they have the community's support. Both men
previously broke away from Tom Polo's militant group. (REF B)

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Chevron,s information suggests these individuals undertook
the kidnapping to get funds to establish a new camp. (Note:
Earlier information from a Chevron security source indicated
the Ezetu militants led by Commander Ebikabowei (possibly
Ebidabowei) were the attackers. Commander Ebikabowei,s camp
consists of two long houses near the Ezetu 2 Chevron host
community in Bayelsa. The leader of nearly 60 militants,
Commander Ebikabowei is believed to control 29 speed boats,
11 of which have double engines and three machine guns. End
Note.)


5. (SBU) An online statement purportedly by the Movement for
the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was issued May 1,
stating "MEND" disapproves of outgoing President Obasanjo's
regime and warning President and Vice President-elect Umaru
Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan that the Niger Delta issue
must be addressed during their administration. The statement
claims the hostages would be released unconditionally on May
30, 2007, as long as neither oil companies nor the Bayelsa
state government offer ransom for the hostages' release.

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AMCIT Contact Difficult to Track; Notification Imminent
-------------- --------------


6. (C) American Citizen Services (ACS) had difficulty
obtaining current next of kin contact information for John
Stapleton, delaying notification. The FBI and our consular
section have notified Stapleton's ex-wife, Barbara Stapleton,
of the incident.

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Comment
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7. (C) We do not definitively know the culprits; however, it
seems this kidnapping was not spurred by local community
grievances. Thus, to understand the motivation behind this
kidnapping would require a glimpse into the murky world and
mind-sets of Delta militants. The most obvious factor in any
kidnapping is the issue of ransom. However, this may not be
the only or even the primary factor in this instance. There
is an ongoing feud between different personalities in the
militant world for the important but unofficial title of
leader of the Ijaw militants and also who is the authentic
MEND. We have heard that Tom Polo has gained concessions
from the Delta State government that have kept Delta State
relatively free of militant activity for some time. In fact,
a statement issued from Warri and attributed to MEND endorsed
the recent local and national elections. It is extraordinary
that a militant group would make such an overture unless
something was gotten in return.


8. (C) In its most recent statement, MEND indicated it would
not release the hostages until after April 29, when the
current government leaves office. This statement most likely
emanates from the Bayelsa-based Commander Africa, Joshua

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McGuyver, or even the more shadowy Henry Okah who probably
lives in the militant/criminal nether reaches of Port
Harcourt. To the extent that this kidnapping is a play in
the leadership struggle among the militant groups is the
extent to which this hostage-taking could be more complicated
and perhaps more protracted than others. End Comment.
BROWNE