SITREP 26: 3 AMCITS, 33 EXPATRIATES REMAIN HOSTAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000419 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: 06/04/2017 TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET KDEM NI PGOV PREL SUBJECT: SITREP 26: 3 AMCITS, 33 EXPATRIATES REMAIN HOSTAGE IN NIGER DELTA REF: A. LAGOS 415 ¶B. LAGOS 367 LAGOS 00000419 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Approximately 36 expatriates are being held hostage in the Niger Delta, including three American citizens kidnapped May 25 off the shore of Bayelsa State. Since June 1, 12 expatriates, no American citizens, have been abducted in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. Twelve Indian nationals, one British national and one Lebanese national remain hostages. Two Chinese nationals kidnapped on March 17 and two Indians kidnapped on June 2 were released on June 2 and June 3, respectively. End Summary. -------------- -------------- TransCoastal/Bayelsa: 3 Amcits and 7 Others Remain Hostage -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) American citizens Bobbie Tyner, Shane McMorris, and Richard Moore, as well as four British nationals, one South African, one Filipino, and one Nigerian remain captive after being kidnapped off the shore of Bayelsa State on May 25. Hydrodive received a call from its South African employee on June 3 who confirmed all ten hostages were okay. Company representatives said the kidnappers have demanded naira 500,000,000 (approximately USD 4 million). -------------- ALSCON/AKWA IBOM: 6 Russians Kidnapped June 3 -------------- ¶3. (U) On June 3, militants abducted six Russian nationals in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom, where they were working for the Russian Aluminum Group (RUSSAL),which recently purchased the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON). A Nigerian driver was killed during the attack. -------------- -------------- West Africa Offshore/Rivers: 2 Filipinos Abducted June 2 -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Two Filipino nationals working for West Africa Offshore were kidnapped on June 2. Security sources report the individuals were abducted from Bush Bar in Onne, Eleme local government area (LGA) by unknown gunmen. Media reports suggest the Rivers Police received information "the hoodlums were torturing some foreigners" and subsequently, on June 3, raided the hideout. According to a human rights contact in the area, the clash occurred near Obio-Akpor LGA, Rivers. One of the abductors was killed during the skirmish while the two hostages were released. -------------- -- Schlumberger/Rivers: 4 Expatriates Taken June 1 -------------- -- LAGOS 00000419 002.2 OF 002 ¶5. (SBU) A Dutch national, British national, Pakistani national, and French national working for Schlumberger remain hostages after being abducted at approximately 11:50 PM on June 1 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State (Ref A). -------------- 11 Other Expatriates Remain Hostage -------------- ¶6. (U) Ten Indian nationals, including two women and two children, who were kidnapped June 1 in Rivers State, remain hostages, as do two Indians kidnapped May 19 (Ref B). A Lebanese national kidnapped May 22, who was working for the Niger Cat construction company in Warri, Delta State, remains a hostage (Ref B). British national Jeff Treen, who was employed by Control Risks Group and kidnapped on May 5, remains a hostage (Ref B). ¶7. (U) According to media reports, two Chinese nationals and one Nigerian employed by Nigeria LNG and kidnapped in Anambra State on March 17, were released from captivity on June 2. LATIMER