Cablegate: 7 Expatriate Hostages Released Unharmed

VZCZCXRO9868
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #1302 2981550
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251550Z OCT 06
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8082
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 7946
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 001302

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: 7 EXPATRIATE HOSTAGES RELEASED UNHARMED

REF: A. LAGOS 1294 B. BROWNE/OPSCENTER 10/21 TELCON.

1. After 18 days in captivity, all seven expatriate
employees of ExxonMobil subcontractors taken hostage in Akwa
Ibom were released unharmed on October 21. The release took
place around 3:00 PM. The British High Commissioner was
quoted in news reports that rumors of the death of a hostage
(see Ref) had been circulated by the kidnappers to speed
negotiations. No release or ransom details were provided.
There were no American citizens involved in the incident.
BROWNE

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