US embassy cable - 04LAGOS2011

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 002011 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMAL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2009 
TAGS: MOPS, CASC, EPET, PGOV, NI 
SUBJECT: DELTA VIOLENCE UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER 30 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 1675 
     B. ABUJA 1673 
     C. LAGOS 1998 
     D. LAGOS 1982 
     E. LAGOS 1978 
     F. ABUJA 1656 
     G. ABUJA 1486 
     H. LAGOS 1892 
     I. LAGOS 1820 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.5 (B & D) 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.  (S)  Local press headlined today with news of 
government meetings with Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force 
(NDPVF) leader Asari in Abuja and purported cease-fire 
agreement.  NGO and energy company contacts stated that the 
situation in Port Harcourt was less tense.  Production 
remains unchanged.  There have been no reports on incidents 
involving 
Americans.  Apparently rival Delta militant leader Ateke Tom 
also has traveled to Abuja to participate in talks with the 
GON, and the GON has summoned Rivers State Governor Odili as 
well.  Local press is now openly discussing the Joint Task 
Force Operation Flush Out. 
 
Security Update 
---------------------- 
 
2.  (U)  Local press headlined today with news of 
government meetings with Niger Delta People's Volunteer 
Force (NPDVF) leader Asari in Abuja, stating that the GON 
and Asari had agreed to a cease-fire.  See reftel Abuja 1675. 
 
3.  (C) Marine and Naval Attache returned 30 September from 
a 3-day trip to the Port Harcourt area.  His NGO and oil 
company sources indicates the overall security situation in 
Port Harcourt is quiet, particularly in the city itself.  His 
sources tended to discount Asari's assertion that he was the 
head a genuine Ijaw malcontent movement.  They saw Asari as a 
political thug/bunkerer who was trying to cloak himself with 
Ijaw populism in order to vieil the illicit pecuniary 
activities that are his real motivators.  However, he 
explained that there are oil facilities or personnel, whether 
due to their  geographical location or operational nature, 
that have minimal or no real security protection and that are 
vunerable to the local gangs.  While the Attache's contacts 
largely downplayed the possibility of a large-scale operation 
by the local militias, they prediced that small-scale attacks 
typical of the delta region may continue as usual.  Further 
reporting on the Attache's visit to Port Harcourt will be 
transmitted via DOD channels. 
 
4.  (S)  The Attache also notes that he has received 
information that rival Delta militant leader Ateke Tom 
traveled to Abuja on 29 September, (separately from Asari), 
to participate in talks with the GON.  He notes there are 
rumors that Asari has been talking to the GON for several 
weeks.  He also was informed that that the GON has summoned 
Rivers State 
Governor Odili to Abuja as well. 
 
5.  (U)   Unconfirmed press stated that the GON soldiers 
conducted an operation in  attacked the Gbali community in 
Degema local government area of Rivers on September 23 and 
29, in search of bunkerers who had reportedly disarmed 
military personnel guarding oil installations in the area. 
The press quoted a resident saying, that the town is now a 
"ghost town taken over by the military in under terrible 
occupation and seizure."  Army PRO Second Brigade Nigerian 
Army Port Harcourt confirmed the military had visited the 
town twice in the last 10 days, uncovering an unidisclosed 
quantity of arms and ammunition in village. 
 
Reports from the Energy Sector 
------------------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU)  Shell: Shell External Relations Director was 
optimistic about the ceasefire and GON discussions with 
Asari.    There are no changes in the Shell production 
situation. 
 
7.  (C)  Chevron Texaco: The Chevron Texaco MDof Onshore 
Operations reported that the situation in Port Harcourt is 
calmer, given the news of a cease-fire.  Chevron continues to 
operate at regular production levels.  Chevron Texaco 
Environmental and Safety officer seconded this assessment. 
She also detailed the security arrangements under which 
Chevron personnel are currently operating:  Chevron uses a 
5-tier 
security system; they are currently at tier 3 in Port 
Harcourt, which prohibits movement of any Chevron 
personnel without a GON armed escort. 
 
8.  (U)  Forosal Drilling:  Forosal Drilling contacts also 
indicated that the situation in Port Harcourt was calm. 
 
ACS Update 
----------- 
 
9.  (SBU)  There have been no reports on incidents 
involving Americans. 
 
Press 
------ 
 
10.  (U)  While the Nigerian press was somewhat reluctant to 
cover military operations in the Delta, the dailies have not 
been bashful about covering the purported ceasefire. Most 
major newspapers awarded front page coverage to GON-Asari 
talks.  One paper headlined with news that the "U.S. directs 
citizens to quit Niger Delta," quoting related statements 
from DOS spokesman Richard Boucher. 
BROWNE