Cablegate: 60 Shell Hostages Released, 7 Expats Still Held In

VZCZCXRO7498
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #1279 2851613
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121613Z OCT 06
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 7915
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8043
INFO 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 001279

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOE FOR GPERSON, CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER
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: EPET ENERG ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: 60 SHELL HOSTAGES RELEASED, 7 EXPATS STILL HELD IN
AKWA IBOM

REF: LAGOS 1272

1. The seven expatriate employees of ExxonMobil contractors
kidnapped October 3 in Akwa Ibom remain hostages; no American
citizens are involved in this incident. On October 12 the
British Deputy High Commission confirmed that all 60 oil
workers taken hostage October 10 at a Shell logistics base in
Bayelsa State were released. (Note: It has been confirmed
that 60 individuals, not 10-20 as previously reported (ref),
were held at a Shell facility adjacent to a small naval base,
both of which were attacked by youths on October 10. End
Note.) No Americans were involved in this incident.
BROWNE

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