SITREP 20: 3 AMCIT LIVES THREATENED; 8 AMCITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000394

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: 05/25/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 20: 3 AMCIT LIVES THREATENED; 8 AMCITS
REMAIN HOSTAGE

REF: A. LAGOS 389

B. LAGOS 307

LAGOS 00000394 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary: On May 27, a news source reported the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND),
"Bayelsa State Chapter," issued Nigeria's Federal Government
a May 29 deadline to release jailed militant leader Dokubo
Asari or "risk the death of seven expatriate oil workers",
including three American citizens, kidnapped May 25. On May
27, eight American citizens remain hostages in the Niger
Delta in three separate incidents. In Bayelsa State, three
American TransCoastal employees kidnapped on May 25, as well
as American Chevron employee John Stapleton kidnapped May 1,
remain hostages. In Delta State, four American Global
Industries employees remain hostages after being abducted May

8. End Summary.

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Militants Threaten to Kill TransCoastal Hostages
-------------- ---


2. (C) A May 27 news source reported the Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND),"Bayelsa State
Chapter," issued the Federal Government a May 29 deadline to
release jailed militant leader Dokubo Asari or "risk the
death of seven expatriate oil workers," including three
Americans, kidnapped May 25 off the coast of Bayelsa State
(Ref A). According to this news source, a Filipino, South
African and Nigerian taken hostage in this incident have been
released. (Note: No other news sources have published this
threat nor reported the release of the other three hostages.
End Note.) According to the article, "Joshua Makaira," the
purported Commander of MEND, claimed to be holding these
expatriates hostages, as well as British national Jeff Treen,
who was kidnapped May 4 off the shore of Bayelsa State near
Sangana. (Comment: We believe "Joshua Makaira," is Joshua
McGuyver (Ref B),on whom we have reported in the past as
acting independently. End Comment.)

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TransCoastal/Bayelsa: 3 Amcits,
6 Other Expats Remain Hostage
--------------


3. (C) American citizens Bobbie Tyner, Shane McMorris, and
Richard Moore, as well as four British nationals, remain
hostages following their May 25 kidnapping (Ref A). On May
27, an unconfirmed news source reported the release of the
Filipino, South African, and Nigerian hostages. The three
Amcits have no known medical conditions. On May 26, a
Nigerian TransCoastal representative met Bayelsa State
Governor-elect Timipre Sylva in Yenagoa. No contact
information or proof of life for the hostages has been

LAGOS 00000394 002.2 OF 002


received.


4. (C) TransCoastal said it was demobilizing and offloading
approximately 130 employees from the barge which was attacked
on May 25. The company planned to return its expatriates
home as soon as possible.

--------------
Bayelsa/Chevron: 1 Amcit, 5 Other Expats Held
--------------


5. (C) American citizen John Stapleton, four Italians, and
one Croatian remain hostages after being kidnapped May 1.
Victor Ebikabowei, the purported kidnapper, allowed the
Director of State Security Service (SSS) to speak over the
telephone to the hostage suffering from a rash; the SSS
Director believed this individual was Amcit John Stapleton.
Chevron has included hydrocortisone and ibuprofen in a
welfare package which will soon be passed to the SSS for
delivery. Dr. Godknows Igali, Secretary to the Bayelsa State
Government, expected the hostages to be released either May
29 or 30.


6. (C) The SSS told Chevron that Ebikabowei is purportedly
in debt to arms dealer/militant leader Henry Okah. The SSS's
emissary inquired how much money Chevron was willing to pay
for the hostages' release; Chevron declined to pay. Chevron
sources received reports that Tom Polo and Henry Okah met on
May 26.

--------------
Delta/GI: 4 Amcits Remain Hostages;
Little Government Contact
--------------


7. (C) American citizens Kevin Faller, Christopher Gay,
Michael Rousell and Larry Plake, employed by Global
Industries (GI) and kidnapped offshore Delta State on May 8,
remain hostages. On May 26, GI representatives said they had
not heard from either the Director of Delta State Security
Service (SSS) or the Secretary to State Government (SSG),
since May 22. GI representatives did not answer over 38
telephone calls from the kidnappers received since May 22
(Ref A). GI said the hostages' families received a couple of
phone calls but did not provide further information.


8. (C) GI representatives believe the group responsible for
this kidnapping operated under the name Egbema I or Nigeria
Delta Freedom Fighters. GI also reported that Tom Polo met
with Henry Okah on May 26; GI also heard that Polo "took Okah
hostage". (Note: We have no further information about or
confirmation of the incident. End Note.) The Delta State
Government, GI and Chevron have told the kidnappers they will
not pay ransom.
BROWNE