The Department of State Services (DSS) has intercepted a major cache of arms in Delta State, seizing 57 AK-47 rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
The operation, carried out near Asaba, led to the arrest of a Delta-born British Army Major and several others suspected of operating a gun-running network, sparking concerns over foreign involvement in Nigeria’s internal security challenges.
In response, the Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) commended the DSS for what it described as a timely and professional operation that averted a potentially deadly crisis.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the group said the arrest had reinforced public confidence in the capabilities of the nation’s intelligence agency.
“We commend Adeola Ajayi, Director-General of the DSS, and the operatives whose vigilance and painstaking investigation helped prevent what could have been a major outbreak of violence in Warri.
“The seizure of these weapons and the arrest of the suspects, including a UK Army Major, has thwarted a planned campaign of ethnic conflict in the region,” the statement read.
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The IYN expressed concern over the potential impact of such a large volume of high-powered weapons falling into the wrong hands, especially amid rising tension linked to the ongoing INEC ward delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.
It urged the DSS to conduct a thorough investigation and bring all those involved, including the foreign military officer, to justice.
“It is troubling that a serving officer in the British military could be linked to a plot aimed at destabilising a part of Nigeria,” the group added, calling on the British High Commission and the UK Government to urgently address the petition submitted against the officer and clarify his status.
The IYN also appealed to residents of Warri, especially the Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri communities to remain vigilant and resist attempts by individuals seeking to incite ethnic violence.
It stressed that disputes over political issues like delineation should be resolved through dialogue, not violence.
In a related development, a coalition of civil society organisations has also petitioned the British High Commission, urging the UK to partner with Nigerian authorities to investigate the involvement of the arrested officer.
In a letter dated April 28, 2025, the coalition described the British Major’s alleged actions as a threat to Nigeria’s internal security.
The letter was signed by Nwambu Gabriel (Chairman), Zekeri Momoh-Saliu (Secretary), Mohammed Idris, and Hugo Okafor, and endorsed by several groups, including the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, Coalition for Democratic Watchdogs, Initiative for Voter Awareness and Electoral Reforms, and the Global Centre for Conscience Living Against Corruption.
