US embassy cable - 04LAGOS1494

S E C R E T LAGOS 001494 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2029 
TAGS: PINR, NI 
SUBJECT: C-CN4-00499 AND C-CN4-00503: NIGER DELTA 
INFORMATION REQUEST 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 149523 
 
     B. SECSTATE 149524 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian Browne for reasons 1.4 (c). 
 
1. (S/NF) The Mission thanks its colleagues in INR for their 
kind encouragement of continued reporting efforts on the 
Niger Delta. Per your request, we have an update on reftels. 
 
2. (S/NF) Captain Ogunjumi, former Commanding Officer (CO) of 
the Nigerian Naval Station (NNS) in Warri, left his post in 
January 2004 and is now attending the Indian Naval War 
College.  Captain J. A. Ajani has replaced him.  In 
conversations with PolOff and EconOff, Ogunjumi did not name 
illegal oil bunkering cartels or shed light on actors 
involved in the theft.  We believe cartels are run by 
international organized crime groups and senior Nigerian 
government officials and businessmen.  However, their 
identities are unknown to us at this time.  We do know that 
militants hired to facilitate the illegal bunkering were, in 
Ogunjumi's estimation, 90% Ijaw and a combination of 
Itsekiri, Urhobos, Yorubas, and Igbos.  A credible source 
informed us on July 1, 2004 of a Lebanese-Nigerian bunkerer 
named FNU Daaboul who was deported in April at President 
Obasanjo's instruction.  Our source tells us that Daaboul, a 
Lebanese Christian from Kano, but recently based in Apapa, 
Lagos, had been involved in the illicit activity since 
General Shagari's time.  Allegedly, Daaboul was deported 
after failing to heed official warning to end his illegal 
bunkering activities.  Only his son has been allowed to 
remain in Lagos.  Daaboul now reportedly resides in Lebanon. 
His family originates from northern Lebanon. 
 
3. (S/NF) In reference to the ships that were released, 
Ogunjumi told us that he received a "phone call from Abuja" 
ordering the release.  He said that a common excuse was that 
they were inadvertently omitted from the day's registry of 
authorized legal bunkering ships from NNPC.  However, he 
refuted this assertion by questioning why these ships would 
anchor 50 miles offshore during the day and creep nearer to 
shore at night if they were engaged in a legal activity.  He 
would not say which individuals owned the ships, but did say 
the cargoes were owned by Nigerians.  The two vessels he was 
forced to release were named "British Progress" and 
"Prosperity."  The "British Progress" had a British crew, 
which he held for four days before superiors in Abuja told 
him to release the ship.  A vessel named "African Pride" with 
18 Russian, 2 Georgian, and 1 Romanian crew members was 
officially seized in October 2003 and was registered in 
Liberia.  Ogunjumi told us the cargo was owned by a Nigerian. 
 At the time of our meeting in December 2003, Ogunjumi had 
officially seized 8 ships, including the "African Pride."  We 
do not know at this time specifics regarding the ownership 
and registry of vessels; nor who operates and owns barges. 
We cannot give answers to other questions raised in ref A at 
this time. 
 
4.  (S/NF)  In response to ref B, we cannot give further 
information at this time.  PolOffs visited the region in June 
2004, but were unable to meet with the current Naval 
Commander, Ajani, or the Assistant Commissioner of Police in 
Warri.  PolOff will visit the region again to meet with these 
two individuals, amongst others, and will seek to answers 
questions raised by INR. 
BROWNE