Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAGOS317
2009-07-24 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
NIGERIA; MEND REPEATS THREATS TO LAGOS FACILITIES
how-toVZCZCXRO5755 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0317 2051426 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241426Z JUL 09 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0900 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0488 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 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK RHMFISS/COMUSNAVEUR NAPLES IT
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000317
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINS MOPS ENRG NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA; MEND REPEATS THREATS TO LAGOS FACILITIES
REF: A. LAGOS 311
B. LAGOS 300
Classified By: Consul General Donna Blair, Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000317
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINS MOPS ENRG NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA; MEND REPEATS THREATS TO LAGOS FACILITIES
REF: A. LAGOS 311
B. LAGOS 300
Classified By: Consul General Donna Blair, Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (SBU) On July 22, Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta spokesman "Jomo Gbomo" stated in an on-line
interview that MEND would resume its campaign against oil
facilities if the GON tried to repair damaged pipelines or
failed to meet the groups demands. In the interview, the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was
specifically named as a target, and the possibility of
further attacks in Lagos was underscored. Only a week
earlier, MEND had declared a 60-day cease-fire, claiming this
would allow it time for militants to convey their "demands"
to the Nigerian government, starting with withdrawal of the
military Joint Task Force (JTF) and the initiation of massive
economic development of the Niger Delta. NNPC may be taking
the threats to its facilities in Lagos seriously; a TOTAL
Downstream contact abruptly canceled a planned July 22 visit
to the Lagos port Apapa fuel depot by Econoff, saying local
NNPC depot officials were concerned about security and
refused to allow the visit to proceed.
2. (C) Comment: The July 12 attack on Atlas Cove in Lagos
demonstrated that one militant commander, probably Tompolo,
is willing and able to attack targets outside of the Niger
Delta (reftels). Although Tompolo is not considered a
MEND-affiliated militant leader, we note that MEND took
credit for the July 12 attack on Atlas Cove and announced
details of the attack very shortly after it took place and
before the news had hit the local newspapers or radio. This
might suggest that if nothing else, Tompolo is happy to let
MEND act as his de facto spokesman. End Comment.
3.(U) This cable was cleared by Embassy Abuja.
BLAIR
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINS MOPS ENRG NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA; MEND REPEATS THREATS TO LAGOS FACILITIES
REF: A. LAGOS 311
B. LAGOS 300
Classified By: Consul General Donna Blair, Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (SBU) On July 22, Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta spokesman "Jomo Gbomo" stated in an on-line
interview that MEND would resume its campaign against oil
facilities if the GON tried to repair damaged pipelines or
failed to meet the groups demands. In the interview, the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was
specifically named as a target, and the possibility of
further attacks in Lagos was underscored. Only a week
earlier, MEND had declared a 60-day cease-fire, claiming this
would allow it time for militants to convey their "demands"
to the Nigerian government, starting with withdrawal of the
military Joint Task Force (JTF) and the initiation of massive
economic development of the Niger Delta. NNPC may be taking
the threats to its facilities in Lagos seriously; a TOTAL
Downstream contact abruptly canceled a planned July 22 visit
to the Lagos port Apapa fuel depot by Econoff, saying local
NNPC depot officials were concerned about security and
refused to allow the visit to proceed.
2. (C) Comment: The July 12 attack on Atlas Cove in Lagos
demonstrated that one militant commander, probably Tompolo,
is willing and able to attack targets outside of the Niger
Delta (reftels). Although Tompolo is not considered a
MEND-affiliated militant leader, we note that MEND took
credit for the July 12 attack on Atlas Cove and announced
details of the attack very shortly after it took place and
before the news had hit the local newspapers or radio. This
might suggest that if nothing else, Tompolo is happy to let
MEND act as his de facto spokesman. End Comment.
3.(U) This cable was cleared by Embassy Abuja.
BLAIR