Cablegate: Niger Delta: 3 Non-American Expats Kidnapped

VZCZCXRO5909
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0691 2951345
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221345Z OCT 07
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9508
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 9279
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0798
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0031
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0139
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 0060
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS LAGOS 000691

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC,
CA/OCS/ACS/AF
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: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGER DELTA: 3 NON-AMERICAN EXPATS KIDNAPPED

1. (SBU) Militants in 20-30 speed boats attacked a Shell
Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) support vessel at the EA
Field offshore Bayelsa state around 20:45 on October 20.
Shell security sources confirmed the kidnapping of three
expatriate subcontractors: a Russian, Croatian and British
national. Media reports indicate four Nigerian nationals
were also taken. According to security sources, one civilian
was reportedly injured and the vessel's communication system
was damaged.

2. (SBU) Shell began work in early September to restart
production from its EA offshore oilfield. The field has a
115,000 barrel per day capacity, but has been shut-in since
February 2006.
HUTCHINSON

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