SITREP 7: 5 AMCITS HELD HOSTAGE IN 2 DIFFERENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000322 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: 05/09/2017 TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL SUBJECT: SITREP 7: 5 AMCITS HELD HOSTAGE IN 2 DIFFERENT ATTACKS REF: A. LAGOS 321 ¶B. LAGOS 318 LAGOS 00000322 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and ( D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Four American citizen oil service workers were kidnapped May 8 from a Global Industries barge offshore Delta State. The kidnappers are presumably Bayelsa state-based. The Bayelsa State Government and Chevron have received information suggestive of proof of life for American citizen John Stapleton, four Italians and one Croatian, who were abducted May 1. The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State told Chevron the kidnappers have demanded the release of Victor Ebikabowei's brother and naira 500 million (approximately USD 4 million) for the release of the six hostages taken May 1. On May 8, a utility supply vessel was attacked offshore Delta and Bayelsa states; passengers were robbed but no hostages were taken. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Global Industries: Four Amcits Kidnapped In Delta State -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Global Industries confirmed on May 9 the kidnapping of four American employees: Christopher Gay, Michael James Rousell, Kevin Joseph Faller and Larry Allen Plake. Militants abducted the four men around 01:00 AM from the Cheyenne, a Global Industries barge located two to three miles offshore Delta State near Chevron's Escravos platform. The Cheyenne was contracted to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL). Global Industries has already contacted the families of all four. The ACS unit chief is awaiting the list of names of the family members wh have already been contacted by Global Industries. The ACS unit chief will compare this information with the emergency contact information in PIERS and telephone the families. Three government security forces (GSF) sustained non life-threatening wounds during the attack. ¶3. (SBU) Clayton Associates, a U.S. based security company, dispatched a representative to Nigeria on May 9 to act as a consultant to Global Industries on this incident. Another Global vessel, the Comanche, is operating in the area under Chevron. Global and Chevron are attempting to move this vessel farther offshore out of harm's way. Chevron has shut down discretionary operations such as construction and drilling, but does not plan to shut down production in this area. Chevron security sources suggest Stanley Woye (alternative spelling Woryei) from the Egbama community or Bright Ibilo may have masterminded this attack. Delta State Governor James Ibori told the Consul General that his official intermediaries with the militants have talked to Delta-based Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Community (FNDIC) leader Tom Polo who disclaimed involvement and expressed anger at the apparent encroachment of other militants into his area of operation. Ibori said Tom Polo is cooperating with his men to effectuate the release. (Comment: That LAGOS 00000322 002.2 OF 003 Bayelsa-based militants crossed into Tom Polo's territory accords with the hypothesis of a growing feud within the militant family. If the Egbama community is tied to or was instigated by militant leader Henry Okah, Tom Polo's most significant rival, then freeing these latest hostages may not prove to be easy. End Comment.) ¶4. (SBU) According to an ArmorGroup representative onboard during the attack, 36 well-armed militants in six boats approached the Cheyenne around 23:00 PM on May 8. The attackers wore red shirts and black pants; the ArmorGroup representative saw one belt-fed machine gun and heard what sounded like rocket propelled grenade explosions. -------------- -------------- Chevron: Partial POL Evidence; Kidnappers Issue Demands -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) American citizen John Stapleton, four Italian nationals and one Croatian remain hostages after being kidnapped May 1. A care package was reportedly delivered Monday May 7; the emissary returned with a note purportedly confirming the hostages' receipt of the medication, written in each of their handwriting. (Note: Chevron did not analyze the script, nor did the note specify who received which medication. At this time we have no confirmation that Stapleton received his medication. End Note.) ¶6. (SBU) Emissaries visiting the camp May 8 claim to have seen the hostages using mosquito netting. They returned with the Croatian's Chevron wristwatch. Chevron confirmed the six individuals in a photograph provided the news media on May 8 were the kidnapped employees; however, there was no indication when this photograph was taken. A care package containing water and family letters was expected to be passed to the Bayelsa State Government on May 9. ¶7. (C) In a departure from their statement disavowing financial motives, the kidnappers have demanded the release of Victor Ebikabowei's brother and naira 500 million (approximately USD 4 million) for the hostages' release. Bayelsa Deputy Governor Perembowei Ebebi told the captors neither the government nor Chevron would submit to their demands, but Ebebi did confide to Chevron Managing Director Fred Nelson that some concessions would need to be made. Ebebi suggested the government was not willing to set the precedent of a quid pro quo release but it was likely some money would exchange hands. ¶8. (C) According to a Chevron security source, the Italian Consulate representatives prefer to liaise with Senator David Brigidi, representing the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, over Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Dr. Godknows Igali. (Comment: Igali has been our usual contact on these matters but Brigidi has long-standing contacts with some of these groups and could be helpful. Bad blood developed between the Italians and Igali regarding the LAGOS 00000322 003.2 OF 003 Italian kidnapped late last year. Igali accused the Italians of interfering with his efforts and for paying a much too handsome ransom. The Italians, on the other hand, believe Igali might have taken an unauthorized cut of the funds that the Italian oil company, Agip, had directed toward the kidnappers. End Comment.) -------------- Vessel Robbed in Delta, No Hostages Taken -------------- ¶9. (SBU) On May 8 the utility supply vessel Walvis 6 was attacked near Meren Field, offshore between Delta and Bayelsa states. Security sources said the attackers appeared to be "pirates" as they robbed the ship and departed without hostages. -------------- -------------- British National Remains Hostage; No Abductor Contact -------------- -------------- ¶10. (C) Security Coordinator for Control Risks Group (CRG), British national Jeff Treen, remains hostage after 48 militants in four boats attacked Transocean's Trident 8 rig on May 4. This rig was operating under contract to Conoil in Sangana, near Brass, Bayelsa State. According to David Harries of the British Deputy High Commission (BDHC),CRG had not been in contact with the kidnappers. Dr. Godknows Igali told Harries he was working on securing Treen's release. BROWNE