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.

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Amcit Meds Not Delivered, No Photos/Proof of Life
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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.

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CRG Security Coordinator Abducted Off the Shore of Bayelsa
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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


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Shell Filipinos, Koreans, One Nigerian Remain Hostages
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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.

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Niger Delta: GON Intel Expects Attacks May 7-11
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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