SITREP 5: AMCIT STILL HOSTAGE; NO PROOF OF LIFE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000318 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC, CA/OCS/ACS/AF FOR MESARITI 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: 05/07/2017 TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL SUBJECT: SITREP 5: AMCIT STILL HOSTAGE; NO PROOF OF LIFE REF: A. LAGOS 313 ¶B. LAGOS 309 ¶C. LAGOS 307 ¶D. LAGOS 303 LAGOS 00000318 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: American citizen John Stapleton, four Italians and one Croatian started their seventh day as hostages. The State Security Service (SSS) could not confirm delivery of Stapleton's medication (Ref A) over the weekend and, as of May 7, had not received photos of the hostages. Chevron passed care packages containing food, water, clothes and antimalarial prophylaxes to the SSS on May 6 and is currently acquiring additional medication to send to Stapleton. A British national working for Control Risks Group (CRG) was abducted from a Rig near Bayelsa on May 5, increasing the number of expatriates being held hostage in the Niger Delta to 18. Security sources report another wave of militant attacks may occur during the second week of May. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Amcit Meds Not Delivered, No Photos/Proof of Life -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) American citizen John Stapleton, four Italian nationals and one Croatian abducted on May 1 remain hostages. Two individuals were charged with delivering Stapleton's medication and taking the hostages' pictures on May 5, which they claim to have done. However, upon their return they told the State Security Service (SSS) the camera was confiscated. Chevron has therefore dismissed any claims that the six hostages were seen and Stapleton's medication was delivered. ¶3. (C) On May 6, Chevron passed welfare packages containing food, water, clothes, toiletries, antimalarial prophylaxes and medication for the two Italians to the SSS. Chevron said it is acquiring more of Stapleton's medication so that it can be passed to him through multiple deliveries. ¶4. (C) Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi of Bayelsa, Chevron's primary contact in Yenagoa, said he would try to visit the camp and see the hostages on May 10. On May 7, Fred Nelson, Managing Director of Chevron, said he would travel to Abuja to meet with Ebebi and possibly meet with President Obasanjo. -------------- -------------- CRG Security Coordinator Abducted Off the Shore of Bayelsa -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Security Coordinator for Control Risks Group (CRG), British national Jeff Treen, was reportedly abducted on May 5 from Trident 8, a Transocean rig operating under contract to Conoil in Sangana, near Brass, Bayelsa State. LAGOS 00000318 002.2 OF 002 -------------- -------------- Shell Filipinos, Koreans, One Nigerian Remain Hostages -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Eight Filipinos, three Koreans, and one Nigerian remain hostages after being abducted from Daewoo's Afam Gas Project in Rivers State on May 3. -------------- -- Niger Delta: GON Intel Expects Attacks May 7-11 -------------- -- ¶7. (C) A government security source reported information suggesting another wave of expatriate attacks in main Niger Delta cities such as Port Harcourt, Eket, Owerri, and Warri would occur during the second week of May. BROWNE