NIGER DELTA: HOSTAGE TAKING & DEATH, PORT HARCOURT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000567 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH SAO PAULO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER 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: 08/13/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC NI SUBJECT: NIGER DELTA: HOSTAGE TAKING & DEATH, PORT HARCOURT VIOLENCE, MEND THREATENS OIL FACILITIES REF: A. LAGOS 399 ¶B. LAGOS 514 ¶C. LAGOS 485 LAGOS 00000567 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Acting Consul General Donald McConnell for reasons 1.4 ( B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: On August 12, a foreign hostage of an unidentified nationality reportedly died in Bayelsa State en route to a hospital. On August 10, a British National was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on his way to work. On August 8, the son of a Bayelsa State legislator was reportedly kidnapped while a British and Bulgarian national were released in Cross River State after spending one month as hostages. Rival gunfire battles throughout Port Harcourt between August 6 and August 12 have claimed over 25 lives. While Niger Delta militants appear to be respecting their June ceasefire, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, issued an August 9 statement threatening continued oil pipeline attacks. End Summary. -------------- Briton & Lawmaker's Son Kidnapped British & Bulgarian Released -------------- ¶2. (C) Regional Security Officer has received reports that a deceased foreigner was deposited at the Federal Medical Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; the identity and nationality of this individual are unconfirmed. Press sources report that an unidentified, recently kidnapped foreign hostage died on August 12 in Bayelsa State, en route to a hospital. The hostage was rumored to have been held at Commander Africa's camp in Southern Ijaw local government area (LGA),Bayelsa State. (Note: Commander Africa is also known as Victor Ebikabowei. (Ref A) End Note.) ¶3. (SBU) The British Deputy High Commission confirmed on August 10 that a British national working for oil service contractor HydroDive was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The individual was reportedly kidnapped in the morning on his way to work after departing his residence. Security sources report his abandoned vehicle was found with its tires shot. According to security sources, ransom for this hostage was set at naira 1 billion (approximately USD 7.8 million). ¶4. (U) On August 8, the 11 year old son of Bayelsa State legislator Ruby Benjamin, representing the oil-rich Brass constituency, was reportedly kidnapped. According to press reports, the kidnappers have demanded USD 150,000. Also on August 8, a British and a Bulgarian national were released from captivity after being taken hostage offshore Cross River State on July 8. Both men were employees of Expo Group, contracted to the Nigerian oil exploration company Moni Pulo Ltd. This incident was the first known kidnapping of expatriates in Cross River. -------------- Violence Rocks Port Harcourt Despite LAGOS 00000567 002.2 OF 003 Rivers Leaders Renouncement of Violence -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Despite the July 14 public renouncement of violence by Rivers State cultist group leaders in Port Harcourt (Ref B),violence and "gunbattles" plagued the city between August 6 and 12. Police officials, detailed to escort expatriates, were found dead in the city and post received multiple reports that armed cultists were spotted wearing mobile police clothing. According to press reports, over 25 people have been found dead due to the cult violence. On August 11, Chief of Defense Staff General Azazi and Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro tried to bring peace with them to Port Harcourt, in the form of the military Joint Task Force. Despite increased mobile police presence throughout the city, the cultists were said to have bombed the state owned radio station and a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega fueling station. However, according to a security contact, the gangs agreed to a ceasefire on August 12; there were few reports of violence that day. ¶6. (U) According to post contacts, radio journalist Segun Awolalist with Radio Rhythm was arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) on August 11 for reporting on the violence in Port Harcourt. He was reportedly released later that same day. ¶7. (C) While rivaling cult groups were engaged in the city-wide battle, it is not clear which groups were responsible. Isaac Osuoka with the Port Harcourt-based NGO Social Action, told Polspec on August 10 that since cult groups no longer enjoy the political patronage they did under former Rivers Governor Peter Odili, they have shifted their activities to "urban terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, and robbery." While there is a deep rivalry between criminal and cultist leaders Ateke Tom and Soboma George, our contacts have suggested several independent groups may have been caught in a power struggle over the past week. -------------- - Criminal Arms Dealer Henry Okah Threatens IOCs -------------- - ¶8. (C) On August 10, Francis Sheen, a Bayelsa State Government official working in the Niger Delta for Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, told Poloff that criminal arms dealer Henry Okah, known in the creeks as "Master" and online as "Jomo Gbomo," is responsible for the August 9 Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) threats to renew attacks on oil pipelines and international oil companies (IOCs). Sheen described Okah as a criminal leader who moves between Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome, and Nigeria, where he controls no more than 200 Niger Deltans. According to Sheen, Okah has been told that if he will not discuss a solution with the GON he will be "knocked off." -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (C) While Bayelsa and Delta states have experienced LAGOS 00000567 003.2 OF 003 relative calm following the Niger Delta militants' June ceasefire (Ref C),criminal activity in Rivers and Cross River has increased. A similar trend occurred in 2004 following the 2003 elections when criminal groups armed for the elections clashed throughout the city and claimed numerous civilian lives. How the state and federal governments choose to address the Port Harcourt violence may be indicative of the new Administration's emerging leadership style. End Comment. MCCONNELL