50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition were found by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Asaba, Delta State, during a clandestine operation.
The British Army’s Itsekiri (name withheld) was also detained by the agency after he allegedly obtained the weapons at Collins’ request.
In relation to the illicit weaponry delivery, the principal suspect, a British Army Major, and numerous associates were captured by DSS Delta Command agents on Friday evening, according to multiple DSS sources.
He was reportedly going to board a flight to the United Kingdom when the British army officer was intercepted in Lagos, and his colleagues were captured in Asaba.
“A British Army soldier named An Itsekiri is accused of obtaining weapons and ammunition at the request of a Collins in order to cause disturbances in Warri,” the source said.
“” In a secret meeting in Delta State, close to Asaba, DSS Delta Command agents captured the arms dealer and a number of colleagues, confiscating more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition, six pump-action shotguns, and more than 50 AK-47 rifles.
“” On his way to the United Kingdom, the British Major was stopped shortly after by DSS officials in Lagos as he attempted to pass the Nigerian border.
“DSS now has control of every suspect. Any individual found to be planning tribal confrontations will be held accountable after the DSS conducts a thorough and open investigation.
It is suspected that persons who oppose the Warri Federal Constituency’s ward and polling unit demarcations purchased the weapons.
In addition, a strong traditional leader is being quietly probed in relation to the issue.
The Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities had already been shown the report about the ward and polling unit demarcation in the Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The new ward and polling unit delineation fieldwork was prompted by the Supreme Court’s December 22, 2022, ruling, which directed the Commission to carry out the exercise, according to State Resident Electoral Commissioner Etekamba Umoren, who represented INEC chairman at the presentation in Asaba, the capital of Delta State.
Dr. Andrew Igban, Dr. Joe Bisina, and Chief Victor Okumagba received copies of the delineation report on behalf of the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo ethnic groups, respectively.
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According to the INEC chairman’s remarks during the meeting, this was the sixth time the Commission had met with the stakeholders since the ruling of the Supreme Court, which ordered the Commission to conduct the exercise in the three local government districts of the Warri.
As the Commission was prepared to accept the report as a working document in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order, he invited the interested parties to read it and properly react to it.
The proposed delineation, however, has increased friction in the state as several individuals and groups are against the exercise.
The exercise was recently supported by a large number of Ijaw youths who marched to the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
They said the INEC demarcation process was fair and consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling, and they were drawn from the Gbaramatu, Egbema, Diebiri, and Isaba villages.
They praised INEC for what they described as a transparent process, marking the end of the Ijaw people’s years-long political marginalization in the constituency.
