Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAGOS359
2007-05-18 15:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
SITREP 14: 5 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES; MEDS
how-toVZCZCXRO9906 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0359/01 1381518 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181518Z MAY 07 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8938 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 8751 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0039 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1256 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0368 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0037 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ PRIORITY 0347 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 0346 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO PRIORITY 0340 RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000359
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
OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER
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: 05/18/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 14: 5 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES; MEDS
DELIVERED; GI GOES TO WARRI
REF: LAGOS 355
LAGOS 00000359 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000359
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
OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER
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: 05/18/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 14: 5 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES; MEDS
DELIVERED; GI GOES TO WARRI
REF: LAGOS 355
LAGOS 00000359 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)
1. (C) Summary: Chevron's six expatriate employees, American
citizen John Stapleton, one Croatian and four Italians, begin
their eighteenth day as hostages. Dr. Godknows Igali,
Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, continues to use
SIPDIS
other militant groups to pressure Victor Ebikabowei into
releasing the hostages. Four American citizens kidnapped on
May 8 remain hostages. Global Industries plans to send
representatives to Warri on May 19 to better liaise with the
Delta State Government. End Summary.
--------------
Bayelsa/Chevron: Send Meds As Requested;
Igali Working to Secure Hostages' Release
--------------
2. (C) Chevron's six expatriate employees, American citizen
John Stapleton, one Croatian and four Italians, begin their
eighteenth day as hostages. Chevron plans to send another
package of medication and water to the hostages today, May
18, through State Security Service (SSS). Chevron's hostage
crisis group said they would ask SSS to see if the militants
would allow the hostages to send letters to their families.
Chevron's Managing Director Fred Nelson said he intended to
send letters to both the American and Italian Ambassadors but
did not comment on their content or date of delivery.
3. (C) On May 17, Dr. Godknows Igali, Secretary to the
Bayelsa State Government, told Chevron he was using other
militant groups to pressure Victor Ebikabowei (Reftel) to
release the hostages. Igali was optimistic the release would
occur soon. However, the Deputy Governor believed militant
leader Henry Okah is determined to inflict injury on
international oil companies and would hold the hostages until
May 30. Chevron has decided to rely on Dr. Igali and
Governor Jonathan, who they believe to be more influential
than the Deputy Governor, for information. Regarding the
release plan, Chevron is now considering a night convoy from
Yenagoa to Warri if necessary, as night flights would not be
permitted. However, Chevron believes the Government House is
"secure enough" for a handover of the hostages. (Reftel)
-------------- -
Delta/GI: Meds Received; GI Personnel In Warri
-------------- -
4. (C) Four American citizens, Kevin Faller, Christopher
Gay, Michael Rousell and Larry Plake, begin their tenth day
as hostages. Global Industries (GI) gathered additional
medication and water to send to the hostages following
reports that these items were delivered. (Note: Amcit
LAGOS 00000359 002.2 OF 002
Rousell takes medication for hypertension and high
cholesterol. End Note.) GI thought the hostages would likely
be released in Warri. Upon release, GI would move them
quickly to Lagos where they would overnight before taking an
international flight to Houston via London. The company has
all four Americans' passports.
5. (C) GI last had contact with the kidnappers/hostages on
May 16. GI has decided to send representatives to Warri on
May 19 to improve communication with SSS and the Secretary to
the State Government, Ovie Omo-Agege. GI expressed optimism
that this crisis would soon be resolved. Governor-elect
Emmanuel Uduaghan thought the militants responsible for this
kidnapping may have come from the northern part of the Egbema
Kingdom, which extends from Warri North LGA in Delta State to
Ovia South-West local government area (LGA) in Edo State. If
this is the case, personalities in Edo State may seek
involvement in this matter. Their inclusion would likely
complicate and somewhat delay the resolution.
BROWNE
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
OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER
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: 05/18/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 14: 5 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES; MEDS
DELIVERED; GI GOES TO WARRI
REF: LAGOS 355
LAGOS 00000359 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D)
1. (C) Summary: Chevron's six expatriate employees, American
citizen John Stapleton, one Croatian and four Italians, begin
their eighteenth day as hostages. Dr. Godknows Igali,
Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, continues to use
SIPDIS
other militant groups to pressure Victor Ebikabowei into
releasing the hostages. Four American citizens kidnapped on
May 8 remain hostages. Global Industries plans to send
representatives to Warri on May 19 to better liaise with the
Delta State Government. End Summary.
--------------
Bayelsa/Chevron: Send Meds As Requested;
Igali Working to Secure Hostages' Release
--------------
2. (C) Chevron's six expatriate employees, American citizen
John Stapleton, one Croatian and four Italians, begin their
eighteenth day as hostages. Chevron plans to send another
package of medication and water to the hostages today, May
18, through State Security Service (SSS). Chevron's hostage
crisis group said they would ask SSS to see if the militants
would allow the hostages to send letters to their families.
Chevron's Managing Director Fred Nelson said he intended to
send letters to both the American and Italian Ambassadors but
did not comment on their content or date of delivery.
3. (C) On May 17, Dr. Godknows Igali, Secretary to the
Bayelsa State Government, told Chevron he was using other
militant groups to pressure Victor Ebikabowei (Reftel) to
release the hostages. Igali was optimistic the release would
occur soon. However, the Deputy Governor believed militant
leader Henry Okah is determined to inflict injury on
international oil companies and would hold the hostages until
May 30. Chevron has decided to rely on Dr. Igali and
Governor Jonathan, who they believe to be more influential
than the Deputy Governor, for information. Regarding the
release plan, Chevron is now considering a night convoy from
Yenagoa to Warri if necessary, as night flights would not be
permitted. However, Chevron believes the Government House is
"secure enough" for a handover of the hostages. (Reftel)
-------------- -
Delta/GI: Meds Received; GI Personnel In Warri
-------------- -
4. (C) Four American citizens, Kevin Faller, Christopher
Gay, Michael Rousell and Larry Plake, begin their tenth day
as hostages. Global Industries (GI) gathered additional
medication and water to send to the hostages following
reports that these items were delivered. (Note: Amcit
LAGOS 00000359 002.2 OF 002
Rousell takes medication for hypertension and high
cholesterol. End Note.) GI thought the hostages would likely
be released in Warri. Upon release, GI would move them
quickly to Lagos where they would overnight before taking an
international flight to Houston via London. The company has
all four Americans' passports.
5. (C) GI last had contact with the kidnappers/hostages on
May 16. GI has decided to send representatives to Warri on
May 19 to improve communication with SSS and the Secretary to
the State Government, Ovie Omo-Agege. GI expressed optimism
that this crisis would soon be resolved. Governor-elect
Emmanuel Uduaghan thought the militants responsible for this
kidnapping may have come from the northern part of the Egbema
Kingdom, which extends from Warri North LGA in Delta State to
Ovia South-West local government area (LGA) in Edo State. If
this is the case, personalities in Edo State may seek
involvement in this matter. Their inclusion would likely
complicate and somewhat delay the resolution.
BROWNE