Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LAGOS374
2008-09-24 07:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
NIGERIA: MILITANTS ASK MITTEE FOR HELP FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO0210 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0374/01 2680736 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 240736Z SEP 08 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0177 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 9830 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0144 RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000374
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
STATE PASS NSC FOR BOBBY PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: MILITANTS ASK MITTEE FOR HELP FOR
VILLAGERS WOUNDED IN RIVERS CONFLICT; SOME VILLAGERS KILLED
IN JTF ATTACKS
REF: A. LAGOS 366
B. LAGOS 365
Classified By: Consul General Donna Blair, Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000374
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
STATE PASS NSC FOR BOBBY PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: MILITANTS ASK MITTEE FOR HELP FOR
VILLAGERS WOUNDED IN RIVERS CONFLICT; SOME VILLAGERS KILLED
IN JTF ATTACKS
REF: A. LAGOS 366
B. LAGOS 365
Classified By: Consul General Donna Blair, Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary: Ledum Mittee, newly elected Chairman of the
Technical Committee on the Niger Delta, told Pol-Econ Chief
September 17 that he has been barraged with calls from
militants seeking help for villagers wounded in the on-going
conflict in Rivers State. He has confirmed that villagers
were killed by "bombs" dropped from military Joint Task Force
(JTF) helicopters, and that he has sent trusted associates to
confirm claims of wounded villagers. Mittee plans to tell
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan what he knows, but
recognizes that solving the crisis in Rivers State goes
beyond his mandate as Chair of the Technical Committee.
Meanwhile, the factional Movement for the Emancipation of the
niger Delta (MEND) announced a ceasefire on September 23.
Ambassador was told on September 21 by the Governors Forum
Chairman Bukola Saraki that a gentlemen's agreement had been
reached to allow the new Niger Delta Ministry to start up and
the technical committee to begin its work. End Summary.
2. (C) Ledum Mittee, newly elected Chairman of the Technical
Committee on the Niger Delta, told Pol-Econ Chief September
17 that since his election to the position was announced, he
has been getting calls from Niger Deltans asking for his help
in resolving the current crisis in Rivers State. According
to Mittee, a long-time leader of the non-violent Movement for
the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP),he had to abort a
trip to the United Kingdom to deal with the barrage of calls.
Villages "Bombed" by JTF
--------------
3. (C) Militants have been calling hi from the creeks
"desperately" seeking help for women and children who had
been wounded by Joint Task Force (JTF) forces on September
13. The villages where the wounded are located are in the
Kalabiri area of Rivers State, Mittee said, although he has
heard that two villages in Bayelsa State were also attacked
by the JTF. He has sent close associates to visit the sites,
and expects to receive reports from them sometime Thursday,
September 18. Mittee said he had been able to confirm
reports of villagers having been killed by "bombs" dropped
from JTF helicopters. (Note: In a September 18 conversation,
Ann Pickard, Shell's Managing Director for Africa, (strictly
protect) confirmed that the JTF used helicopters against
militants in the September 13 attacks. End Note.)
4. (C) Mittee told Pol-Econ Chief he plans to speak to the
Vice President by telephone on Thursday, September 18 to
inform him of what he has learned. At the very least, Mittee
said, the Federal Government should let the Red Cross or
other entity into the area to provide medical treatment for
the wounded. Mittee did note that it was possible that the
militants were staying in the villages precisely so as to use
the women and children as a shield against JTF attacks.
Resolving the Crisis "Beyond His Mandate"
--------------
5. (C) While he initially looked upon the calls from
militants as a way to engage them in the work of the
Technical Committee, what they are asking him to do is beyond
his mandate as Chairman of the Committee, he told Pol-Econ
Chief. Neither he nor the Committee will be able to resolve
the conflict in Rivers State, he said. Nonetheless, if he
can help, he wants to do so, as he has spent the better part
of his adult life in the service of the people of the Niger
Delta, he said. Some callers have asked that he resign,
rather than act as a "front for the people who are killing
us." He's under a lot of pressure, he said; he feels as
though everyone in the Niger Delta has his cellphone number.
LAGOS 00000374 002 OF 002
6. (C) Comment: Mittee, who sounded exhausted and was
clearly dispirited by the continuing conflict, is the only
individual of whom Post is aware who is trying to verify and
alleviate the suffering of individuals caught up in the
militant-JTF crossfire. End Comment.
BLAIR
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
STATE PASS NSC FOR BOBBY PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: MILITANTS ASK MITTEE FOR HELP FOR
VILLAGERS WOUNDED IN RIVERS CONFLICT; SOME VILLAGERS KILLED
IN JTF ATTACKS
REF: A. LAGOS 366
B. LAGOS 365
Classified By: Consul General Donna Blair, Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary: Ledum Mittee, newly elected Chairman of the
Technical Committee on the Niger Delta, told Pol-Econ Chief
September 17 that he has been barraged with calls from
militants seeking help for villagers wounded in the on-going
conflict in Rivers State. He has confirmed that villagers
were killed by "bombs" dropped from military Joint Task Force
(JTF) helicopters, and that he has sent trusted associates to
confirm claims of wounded villagers. Mittee plans to tell
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan what he knows, but
recognizes that solving the crisis in Rivers State goes
beyond his mandate as Chair of the Technical Committee.
Meanwhile, the factional Movement for the Emancipation of the
niger Delta (MEND) announced a ceasefire on September 23.
Ambassador was told on September 21 by the Governors Forum
Chairman Bukola Saraki that a gentlemen's agreement had been
reached to allow the new Niger Delta Ministry to start up and
the technical committee to begin its work. End Summary.
2. (C) Ledum Mittee, newly elected Chairman of the Technical
Committee on the Niger Delta, told Pol-Econ Chief September
17 that since his election to the position was announced, he
has been getting calls from Niger Deltans asking for his help
in resolving the current crisis in Rivers State. According
to Mittee, a long-time leader of the non-violent Movement for
the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP),he had to abort a
trip to the United Kingdom to deal with the barrage of calls.
Villages "Bombed" by JTF
--------------
3. (C) Militants have been calling hi from the creeks
"desperately" seeking help for women and children who had
been wounded by Joint Task Force (JTF) forces on September
13. The villages where the wounded are located are in the
Kalabiri area of Rivers State, Mittee said, although he has
heard that two villages in Bayelsa State were also attacked
by the JTF. He has sent close associates to visit the sites,
and expects to receive reports from them sometime Thursday,
September 18. Mittee said he had been able to confirm
reports of villagers having been killed by "bombs" dropped
from JTF helicopters. (Note: In a September 18 conversation,
Ann Pickard, Shell's Managing Director for Africa, (strictly
protect) confirmed that the JTF used helicopters against
militants in the September 13 attacks. End Note.)
4. (C) Mittee told Pol-Econ Chief he plans to speak to the
Vice President by telephone on Thursday, September 18 to
inform him of what he has learned. At the very least, Mittee
said, the Federal Government should let the Red Cross or
other entity into the area to provide medical treatment for
the wounded. Mittee did note that it was possible that the
militants were staying in the villages precisely so as to use
the women and children as a shield against JTF attacks.
Resolving the Crisis "Beyond His Mandate"
--------------
5. (C) While he initially looked upon the calls from
militants as a way to engage them in the work of the
Technical Committee, what they are asking him to do is beyond
his mandate as Chairman of the Committee, he told Pol-Econ
Chief. Neither he nor the Committee will be able to resolve
the conflict in Rivers State, he said. Nonetheless, if he
can help, he wants to do so, as he has spent the better part
of his adult life in the service of the people of the Niger
Delta, he said. Some callers have asked that he resign,
rather than act as a "front for the people who are killing
us." He's under a lot of pressure, he said; he feels as
though everyone in the Niger Delta has his cellphone number.
LAGOS 00000374 002 OF 002
6. (C) Comment: Mittee, who sounded exhausted and was
clearly dispirited by the continuing conflict, is the only
individual of whom Post is aware who is trying to verify and
alleviate the suffering of individuals caught up in the
militant-JTF crossfire. End Comment.
BLAIR