Nigeria Content Online

[ID:95500 Cable dated:2007-02-06T15:37:00]
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000087

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAULO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017
TAGS: CASC, EPET, KDEM, NI, PGOV, PREL
SUBJECT: SITREP 9: HOSTAGES REMAIN CAPTIVE; GOVERNMENT AGREES TO PAY RANSOM

REF: LAGOS 76

Classified By: Consul Alan Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

1. (C) On February 5, American citizen Bill Graham told Pivot employee (name withheld) the negotiation process should conclude as soon as possible because British national Neil Mirrlees’s condition is very weak. John Walker of Control Risks Group could not confirm delivery of the Oral Rehydration Therapy for Mirrlees. (Reftel)

2. (C) State Security Service (SSS) Director(name withheld) told Walker on February 5 that Governor Ibori has decided to conclude the hostage negotiations despite Federal policy prohibiting ransom payments. This decision was made in light of Mirrlees’s condition, according to SSS Director.
Ransom payment was contingent on the condition that it never be publicly mentioned; SSS Director warned Pivot employee (name withheld) would be arrested if it became known.

3. (C) According to Walker, SSS Director (name withheld) said he would arrange for the hostages’ release once he had the full naira 20 million ransom (approximately USD 156,000) in hand.
BROWNE