SITREP 30: 3 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGE; UK ENGAGING GON

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000437 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: 06/08/2017 TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET PGOV PREL KDEM NI SUBJECT: SITREP 30: 3 AMCITS REMAIN HOSTAGE; UK ENGAGING GON REF: A. LAGOS 434 ¶B. LAGOS 419 Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) On June 8, ten hostages kidnapped off the shore of Bayelsa State on May 25 begin their third week in captivity. TransCoastal (TCO) representatives told us on June 7 that they believe Amcit Bobbie Tyner, two British nationals, and the South African hostage are being held by "The General," also known as "Young Shall Grow." TCO contacts said "The General" is "less professional and stable" than Joshua McGuyver, who the company believes is holding the other six hostages (Amcits Shane McMorris and Richard Moore, two British nationals, and a Filipino and Nigerian national). TCO said the four hostages under "The General" reportedly stopped receiving water and mosquito netting, but believed their captor was eager to negotiate their release. Company representatives have had no communication with McGuyver or the six hostages they believe he is holding. ¶2. (C) TransCoastal has had limited communication with government officials on this case; however, the British High Commission (BHC) has actively engaged the Government of Nigeria over the past week. The BHC met Dr. Godknows Igali, Special Advisor to the President on the Niger Delta, twice in Abuja since June 4. The British Government discussed the current hostage situation during a cabinet level meeting in London on June 6. According to a BHC official, Prime Minister Tony Blair reportedly planned to discuss the kidnapping of the five British nationals, as well as government efforts to secure their release, with President Yar'Adua during the G8 Summit. ¶3. (C) Dr. Igali thought the release of jailed militant leader Dokubo Asari could precipitate the release of 13 hostages, including the 10 hostages kidnapped May 25, British national Jeff Treen, and two Indians nationals (Ref B). LATIMER