Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAGOS372
2007-05-23 16:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
SITREP 17: FIVE AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES
how-toVZCZCXRO4355 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0372 1431645 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231645Z MAY 07 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8960 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 8773 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0048 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1264 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0377 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0044 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ PRIORITY 0356 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 0355 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO PRIORITY 0349 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 LAGOS 000372
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: 05/23/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 17: FIVE AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES
REF: LAGOS 367
Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
----------------------------------------
Bayelsa/Chevron: Supplies Not Delivered,
Hostage Developed Rash
----------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000372
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: 05/23/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 17: FIVE AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES
REF: LAGOS 367
Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
--------------
Bayelsa/Chevron: Supplies Not Delivered,
Hostage Developed Rash
--------------
1. (C) American citizen John Stapleton, four Italians, and
one Croatian remain hostages after being kidnapped off the
shore of Bayelsa State on May 1. As of May 23, the State
Security Service (SSS) emissary had not delivered Chevron's
welfare package containing water, soft drinks, food and naira
1 million (approximately USD 8,000) (Reftel). Victor
Ebikabowei, the kidnapper, allowed one of the hostages to
speak with the Director of SSS on May 22. The hostage, whose
name was not revealed, said he developed a rash and requested
the delivery of hydrocortisone and ibuprofen. Ebikabowei
reiterated that the last welfare package received was too
small and needed more substantial items. (Note: In response
to this request Chevron chose to include soft drinks and food
in the most recent welfare package. End Note.)
2. (C) The Director of SSS asked Chevron on May 22 to
provide naira 2 million (approximately USD 16,000) because
the Bayelsa State finance official who previously paid the
"logistics costs" was purportedly "not available." (Note:
Chevron confirmed the Bayelsa State Government paid the
"logistics costs" for previous welfare packages; Reftel
reported that Chevron had paid. End Note.) Chevron told SSS
it would not provide these funds as this was not the
company's responsibility. That evening, the Deputy Governor
of Bayelsa asked Chevron to pay the naira 2 million--Chevron
refused. The Deputy Governor and the SSS emissary visited
the Chevron representatives in Yenagoa and called Ebikabowei.
The emissary requested that Ebikabowei work with the Deputy
Governor to "resolve problems" and suggested the kidnappers
could release the hostage who has developed a rash. (Note:
In a subsequent meeting, Chevron's crisis team did not
support a partial release unless there was a life-threaening
reason. End Note.)
--------------
Delta/GI: Amcits Remain Hostages;
Kidnappers Continue Calls
--------------
3. (C) Four American Global Industries (GI) employees, Kevin
Faller, Christopher Gay, Michael Rousell and Larry Plake,
remain hostages. GI representatives planned to meet with the
Secretary to Delta State Government, Ovie Omo-Agege on May
SIPDIS
23. GI is working with Chevron to prepare for the hostages'
release. GI has referred the kidnappers' inquiries to Delta
government officials.
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: 05/23/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 17: FIVE AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGES
REF: LAGOS 367
Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
--------------
Bayelsa/Chevron: Supplies Not Delivered,
Hostage Developed Rash
--------------
1. (C) American citizen John Stapleton, four Italians, and
one Croatian remain hostages after being kidnapped off the
shore of Bayelsa State on May 1. As of May 23, the State
Security Service (SSS) emissary had not delivered Chevron's
welfare package containing water, soft drinks, food and naira
1 million (approximately USD 8,000) (Reftel). Victor
Ebikabowei, the kidnapper, allowed one of the hostages to
speak with the Director of SSS on May 22. The hostage, whose
name was not revealed, said he developed a rash and requested
the delivery of hydrocortisone and ibuprofen. Ebikabowei
reiterated that the last welfare package received was too
small and needed more substantial items. (Note: In response
to this request Chevron chose to include soft drinks and food
in the most recent welfare package. End Note.)
2. (C) The Director of SSS asked Chevron on May 22 to
provide naira 2 million (approximately USD 16,000) because
the Bayelsa State finance official who previously paid the
"logistics costs" was purportedly "not available." (Note:
Chevron confirmed the Bayelsa State Government paid the
"logistics costs" for previous welfare packages; Reftel
reported that Chevron had paid. End Note.) Chevron told SSS
it would not provide these funds as this was not the
company's responsibility. That evening, the Deputy Governor
of Bayelsa asked Chevron to pay the naira 2 million--Chevron
refused. The Deputy Governor and the SSS emissary visited
the Chevron representatives in Yenagoa and called Ebikabowei.
The emissary requested that Ebikabowei work with the Deputy
Governor to "resolve problems" and suggested the kidnappers
could release the hostage who has developed a rash. (Note:
In a subsequent meeting, Chevron's crisis team did not
support a partial release unless there was a life-threaening
reason. End Note.)
--------------
Delta/GI: Amcits Remain Hostages;
Kidnappers Continue Calls
--------------
3. (C) Four American Global Industries (GI) employees, Kevin
Faller, Christopher Gay, Michael Rousell and Larry Plake,
remain hostages. GI representatives planned to meet with the
Secretary to Delta State Government, Ovie Omo-Agege on May
SIPDIS
23. GI is working with Chevron to prepare for the hostages'
release. GI has referred the kidnappers' inquiries to Delta
government officials.
BROWNE