Incident Summary:
11/19/2003: Members of the Bini-Oru Security firm took hostage 18 Chevron Texaco workers employed at the Middleton and Pennington oil platforms located off the coast of in Nigeria’s Bayelsa State. On November 21, 2003 a Nigerian Navy rescue operation resulted in the release of 16 of the hostages. One hostage was injured during the battle to regain control of the platforms. One of the perpetrators was killed and 20 others taken into custody following the rescue operation. On November 25, 2003, the last two hostages were released when Nigerian government officials brokered an agreement with the remaining perpetrators resisting arrest.
Overview
GTD ID:
200311190003
When:
2003-11-19
Country:
Nigeria
Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Unknown
City:
Unknown
Location Details:
Off the coast of Nigeria's Bayelsa region
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Armed Assault |
Type of Attack () |
Hostage Taking (Kidnapping) |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Business |
Name of Entity |
Chevron Texaco Oil Company |
Specific Description |
Chevron Texaco Oil Company holdings oil platforms in Bayesla |
Nationality of Target |
United States |
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
Name of Entity |
Civilians |
Specific Description |
Chevron Texaco workers |
Nationality of Target |
|
Additional Information
Hostages |
Yes |
Number of Hostages |
18 |
US Hostages |
Unknown |
Days of Kidnapping |
7 |
Outcome |
Successful Rescue |
Ransom |
Yes |
Total Ransom Amount Demanded |
1884000.00 |
Ransom Amount Demanded from US Sources |
1884000.00 |
Total Ransom Amount Paid |
Unknown |
Total Ransom Amount Paid by US Sources |
Unknown |
Ransom Notes |
N260,000,000 |
Property Damage |
Unknown |
Extent of Property Damage |
Unknown |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Firearms |
Unknown Gun Type |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Additional Information |
The conditions of the release of the last two prisoners was not revealed in the articles on the case. The international oil market reacted swiftly to the attack rising prices on crude oil sharply to $32 per barrel. |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
Bini-Oru |
Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown) |
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
20 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
1 Fatalities / 1 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
1 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
1 |
Total Number of Injured |
1 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
Unknown |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
Mike Oduniyi, “Nigeria: Militant Youths in Bayelsa State Free Two Remaining Chevron Workers” This Day, November 25, 2003. |
“Nigeria: Navy Rescues Chevron Hostages,” Africa News, November 21, 2003. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties