SITREP 14: 5 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES; MEDS

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