SITREP 22: MEND ATTACKS KIDNAPPERS; 8 AMCITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000399

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SIPDIS

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DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY
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STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 22: MEND ATTACKS KIDNAPPERS; 8 AMCITS
REMAIN HOSTAGES

REF:A. LAGOS 395

B. LAGOS 394

C. LAGOS 362

D. LAGOS 124

E. LAGOS 389

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


1. (C) Summary: Global Industries (GI) believes its four
American employees are now under militant leader Tom Polo's
custody and there could be a May 30 release. Three American
citizens kidnapped off the shore of Bayelsa State on May 25
remain hostage but are well, Amcit Shane McMorris said on May

28. Chevron believes negotiations for the release of its six
kidnapped employees, including American citizen John
Stapleton, are ongoing although the hostages will not be
released on May 30 as previously anticipated. End Summary.

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Press Reports MEND Attack on Egbema Kidnappers
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2. (SBU) Nigeria's Vanguard newspaper reported the Movement
for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) abducted five
militant members of the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters (NDFF),
also known as Egbema I, in Bayelsa State on May 27. The
press reported MEND abducted these individuals to secure the
release of the four American citizens (Faller, Gay, Rousell
and Plake) kidnapped by Egbema I on May 25. The press also
reported that MEND acted to reclaim the Niger Delta struggle
from the NDFF which was demanding a ransom for the expatriate
hostages.


3. (C) GI and Chevron both believe militant leader Tom Polo,
based in Warri, now has custody of the GI hostages. Polo was
the leader of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities
(FNDIC),from which Bayelsa and other militants broke off.
Polo had discussed taking control of the four GI hostages as
well as Chevron's six expatriate hostages (Ref C) as a way to
assert his dominance. It is not clear if Tom Polo referred
to the name MEND or the newspaper used that name.


4. (C) According to the State Security Service (SSS),
militant leader Prince Igodo based in Rivers State, who was
known to have abducted expatriates, was killed in a clash
with a rival gang (Ref D). There is no indication Igodo's
death was connected to the attack on the NDFF.

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Delta/GI: 4 Amcits Remain Hostage
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5. (C) Four American GI employees, Kevin Faller, Christopher
Gay, Michael Rousell and Larry Plake, kidnapped May 8, remain
hostages. The Chevron crisis group reported the Delta State

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government has chosen George Timimi as an intermediary for
securing the hostages' release. GI has therefore stopped
passing welfare packages and is prepared for a May 30 release
in Warri, Delta State (Ref E).

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TransCoastal/Bayelsa: 3 Amcits Remain Hostage
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6. (C) Ten TransCoastal (TCO) employees remain hostage in
Bayelsa State, including American citizens Bobbie Tyner,
Shane McMorris, and Richard Moore, four British nationals,
one South African, one Filipino, and one Nigerian. These 10
individuals were kidnapped near Sangana, offshore Bayelsa
State on May 25. TransCoastal has decided to use Alaye
Eremie, who purportedly worked with Bayelsa State on previous
hostage incidents, to liaise with the kidnappers. Eremie
thought Joshua McGuyver, Commander Africa (also known as
Victor Ebikabowei),and the Boloof Camp were behind this
kidnapping. TCO representatives spoke to McMorris on May 28
after Eremii established contact with the kidnappers.
McMorris advised "they were being taken care of, that no one
was sick, and that everyone was ok."


7. (C) Based on the location of the kidnapping and the
timing of certain telephone calls, we believe British
national Jeff Treen may have been kidnapped by Victor
Ebikabowei, the militant who kidnapped the TransCoastal
employees, and is likely being held at the same camp.

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Bayelsa/Chevron: 1 Amcit, 5 Expatriates Remain Hostages;
Chevron Does Not Expect May 30 Release
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8. (C) On May 30, American citizen John Stapleton, four
Italians, and one Croatian remain hostages after being
kidnapped May 1 off the shore of Bayelsa State. Chevron has
not received any updates on its six employees being held
hostage. An Italian diplomat received a call from an
unidentified source who said negotiations were ongoing and
that the hostages would not be released on May 30.
BROWNE