SITREP 3: APPROXIMATELY 24 KIDNAPPED SINCE MAY 1

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000309 SIPDIS 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: 05/03/2017 TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL SUBJECT: SITREP 3: APPROXIMATELY 24 KIDNAPPED SINCE MAY 1 REF: A. LAGOS 307 ¶B. LAGOS 303 LAGOS 00000309 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and ( D) ¶1. (C) Summary: American citizen John Stapleton, four Italians and one Croatian remain hostages after being abducted on May 1. Stapleton takes medication daily and without it, is susceptible to seizures. The Secretary to Bayelsa State Government Dr. Godknows Igali is aware of Stapleton's need for medication and is working to ensure medication is delivered. A Dutch national was reportedly kidnapped from Warri, Delta State on May 2. Two separate militant attacks on May 3 resulted in the kidnapping of 13-18 expatriates. No American citizens were known to be involved in either May 3 incident. Giving the appearance of coordination and not mere coincidence, between 20 and 25 expatriates have been reported kidnapped in four incidents in the last three days. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Bayelsa: Amcit Hostage Medical History Shared with Chevron -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) American citizen John Stapleton, Italian nationals Raffele Pascsariello, Alfonso Frawza, Ignazio Gugliota, Mario Celetano and Croatian national Juricha Ruic remain hostages after being kidnapped May 1. John Stapleton's ex-wife told our consular section that he takes the prescriptive drug Klonipin and has been taking it daily since 1989. Without that drug, Stapleton is susceptible to seizures. Stapleton also is allergic to Penicillin. ¶3. (C) Pursuant to instructions from Consular Affairs, we informed Chevron of Stapleton's medical needs. Chevron's medical office said they would pass an extended supply of Klonipin and antimalarial prophylaxes to the Bayelsa State government, through Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. Godknows Igali. Igali is the state's primary intermediary with the militants and he will urge them to race this medicine to Stapleton. A Chevron representative also said, as a protective measure, they were evacuating personnel from the vessel that was attacked May 1 and will search the six hostages' cabins for any medications the six hostages many not have disclosed. ¶4. (C) Instead of traveling with Governor Goodluck Jonathan on a private visit to the United States, Igali told the Consul General he would remain in Bayelsa to resolve the hostage situation. Igali strongly believed arms dealer/militant leader Henry Okah was linked to the May 1 kidnapping. -------------- Rivers: Shell Filipinos, Koreans Kidnapped -------------- ¶5. (C) Control Risks Group (CRG) confirmed the May 3 LAGOS 00000309 002.2 OF 002 abduction of nine Filipinos and three Koreans from Daewoo's Afam Gas Project operating under Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Oyigbo, Rivers State. (Note: We have received different reports from security sources claiming between seven and nine Filipinos were abducted; all agree three Koreans were taken. End Note.) The attack occurred at approximately 01:00 AM on May 3; CRG reported the death of one joint task force (JTF) soldier. -------------- --- Bayelsa: Agip Expat Workers Abducted from Vessel -------------- --- ¶6. (SBU) Also on May 3, Naval sources indicate the Mystras floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO), located near Brass, was boarded early this morning. A security vessel was attacked and gunfire was reportedly exchanged. Agip's regional security advisor said the modus operandi of this attack closely resembled the May 1 attack in which American national John Stapleton was abducted (REF B). No American nationals are known to be involved in this incident. The hostages appear to be British, Australian, Croatian, or Romanian. -------------- -------------- Delta: Dutch National Reportedly Kidnapped in Warri -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) According to the Dutch Honorary Consul, a Dutch national was abducted from a bar in Warri, Delta State near Effurum/Sapele Road, opposite Urhobo College, on May 2 at approximately 8:00 PM. BROWNE