SITREP 15: 5 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES; KIDNAPPERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000362 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: 05/21/2017 TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL SUBJECT: SITREP 15: 5 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES; KIDNAPPERS DEMAND MORE SUPPLIES REF: LAGOS 359 LAGOS 00000362 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, kidnapped May 1 remain hostages. The abductors have complained Chevron's welfare packages are too small; the company plans to deliver another package of medication, water, and a small "logistics fee." Four American employees of Global Industries (GI) kidnapped on May 8 remain hostages. GI provided the abductors additional mobile phone minutes so the four Amcits could telephone their families. The Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government suspects militant SIPDIS leader Tom Polo may soon attempt to take custody of both Chevron and GI's hostages to maintain his "sphere of influence." End Summary. -------------- -------------- Bayelsa/Chevron: Kidnappers Request More Supplies, Appearing Restless; Polo May Take Control of Hostages -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Chevron's six expatriate employees, American citizen John Stapleton, one Croatian and four Italians, remain hostages after being abducted May 1 off the shore of Bayelsa State. State Security Service (SSS) delivered a welfare package consisting of food and letters from the hostages' families on May 20. Chevron's crisis team said they were logistically prepared for a late May release and are considering potential inauguration-related difficulties. ¶3. (C) On May 20, the kidnappers complained to the Deputy Governor, SSS and Secretary to the State Government--in three separate conversations--that the size and makeup of the welfare package was insufficient. The SSS emissary called Chevron from militant leader Victor Ebikabowei's telephone, and Amcit Stapleton repeated the emissary's comments regarding the welfare package (Reftel). The Deputy Governor suggested Chevron send enough supplies for the hostages and the abductors. Although Chevron said it did not want to send additional water and food supplies, it purchased more of these things on May 20 and would consider delivering them on May 21 so as not to alienate the Bayelsa State government. Chevron said they would not dialogue directly with Ebikabowei if he attempted to contact them outside government channels. On May 21, Chevron said the SSS emissary was ready to return to the camp with another standard welfare package and naira 1,000,000 (approximately USD 8,000) for "logistics costs." ¶4. (C) Dr. Godknows Igali, Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, told Chevron on May 20 he was still negotiating the situation. Ebikabowei told Igali he wanted his brother released from jail, that the welfare packages were too small, LAGOS 00000362 002.2 OF 002 and that he had expected to receive at least naira 500,000 by now (approximately USD 4,000). The Director of SSS received a similar call from Ebikabowei and commented the militant sounded desperate for a resolution. ¶5. (C) Igali told Chevron there was no consensus among militant groups regarding a release date, but thought this would be discussed on May 20. Chevron's security intelligence suggested militant leader Tom Polo might take custody of both Chevron and GI's hostages and negotiate their release in order to maintain his "sphere of influence." (Comment: Polo enjoys positive relations with Igali and if he had custody, effectuating a release would be much easier. However, discord among the militants could make this plan difficult to actualize. End Comment.) ¶6. (C) Bayelsa State Governor-elect Timipre Sylva provided Chevron's Managing Director, Fred Nelson, an unsolicited list of suggested development projects Chevron could initiate in Bayelsa. Nelson commented this overture hinted at what type of Governor Sylva would be and how the company would need to work with him. -------------- Delta/GI: Hostages' Photo Published; GI Funds Hostage-Family Contact -------------- ¶7. (C) Four American citizens, Kevin Faller, Christopher Gay, Michael Rousell and Larry Plake, remain hostages after being kidnapped off the shore of Delta State on May 8. On May 19, a photo of the four hostages was published in a Nigerian newspaper; the author of the article said the photograph was taken May 17. ¶8. (C) On May 20, all four hostages called their families after Global Industries (GI) provided the kidnappers mobile phone recharge-cards. (Note: GI representatives did not say how they were able to transfer minutes to the hostages' phones. End Note.) GI planned to keep a line open between the hostages and their families despite the advice of Secretary to the Delta State Government, Ovie Omo-Agege, that SIPDIS GI break direct contact with the kidnappers. GI has provided each family instructions and language to use if the kidnappers call. Omo-Agege said he was working to secure the hostages' release and would meet the company representatives again on May 21. ¶9. (C) Chevron planned to contact Omo-Agege to express the company's continued support for and interest in seeing GI's four American hostages released. Bayelsa State Secretary Dr. Igali thought Chevron's hostage incident was holding up the release of GI's employees. BROWNE