MILITANTS SEIZE PDP CHIEFTAINS IN ONDO STATE; MEND

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000622

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI
SUBJECT: MILITANTS SEIZE PDP CHIEFTAINS IN ONDO STATE; MEND
DISAVOWS RESPONSIBILITY

REF: LAGOS 103

Classified By: Acting Consul General Donald McConnell for reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D)


1. (U) On September 9, militants claiming to be members of
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)
seized 11 chieftains of the People's Democratic Party (PDP)
in Ondo State, a state which had previously been unscathed by
kidnapping activity. However, a MEND spokesperson disclaimed
responsibiity for the kidnapping, alleging the kidnapping
was criminal in nature. On September 10 the militants
released two chieftains, but it is not known if the militants
received compensation.


2. (U) The abductions occurred in southern Ondo State, an
oil-rich region populated by the Ijaw and Itsekiri who have
long claimed marginalization by the Yoruba-dominated state
government. The militants publicly claimed the Ondo State
government reneged on its promises and failed to provide
adequate compensation for their services in rigging the April
2007 elections. Opposition Labour Party (LP) candidate
Olusegun Mimiko had previously alleged the PDP manipulated
the April election, particularly in southern Ondo, in
incumbent Governor Olusegun Agagu's favor. Mimiko's case is
at the electoral tribunal.

--------------
Abduction Appears to be of Parochial Nature
--------------


3. (C) Ade Adetimehin, State Welfare Officer for the
Alliance for Democracy (AD) dismissed the notion Agagu
reneged on an agreement, stating flatly that, "politicians do
their payoffs right away and do not wait to pay later."
Adetimehin told Polspec the actual conflict was between two
rival PDP factions in Obe, who are contending for the PDP
nominations in the Local Government Council (LGC) elections
anticipated for December. The kidnapping of the chieftains
was a bold attempt to gain the upper hand, Adetimehin said.

--------------
Comment
--------------


4. (C) What distinguishes this kidnapping and garnered
front-page local media attention is its location outside the
traditional Niger Delta region. Ondo presents the same
combustible combination of ethnicity, politics, and oil
wealth which has proven deadly in the Niger Delta. This
kidnapping appears to be parochial reasons and pitting Ijaws
against fellow Ijaws. The Ondo militants have apparently
derived inspiration from their neighbors in both methods and
in linking their claims to the disputed April elections and
ethnic marginalization. Governor Agagu is not particularly
popular and still faces the electoral tribunal with the
possibility former allies will expose PDP electoral
malfeasance. With the Chevron-operated Olokola Liquified
Natural Gas (OKLNG) pipeline straddling the borders of Ondo
and Ogun states, security in Ondo will need continued
attention.
MCCONNELL