The Department of State Services has arrested a serving British Army officer of Itsekiri descent and recovered 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump action shotguns and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition during a covert operation in Asaba, Delta State over the crisis rocking the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to available information, the arms and ammunition seized by the secret police were procured at the behest of one Collins.
Multiple sources said the operatives from the Delta State Command of the DSS apprehended the prime suspect, a Major in the British Army, and several associates in connection with the illegal arms supply.
The British army officer was reportedly intercepted in Lagos as he was about boarding a flight to the United Kingdom, while his associates were apprehended in Asaba.
A source stated: “An Itsekiri serving in the British Army is alleged to have procured weapons and ammunition at the behest of one Collins to instigate unrest in Warri.
“During a covert exchange near Asaba in Delta State, operatives from the DSS Delta Command apprehended the arms supplier and several associates, seizing over 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
“Shortly thereafter, DSS agents in Lagos intercepted the British Major as he tried to cross Nigeria’s border en route to the United Kingdom.
“All suspects are now in DSS custody.
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“The DSS will carry out a full and transparent investigation and hold anyone found plotting tribal conflicts to account.”
There are suspicions that the arms were procured by those opposed to the delineation of the wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency.
A powerful traditional ruler is also being discreetly investigated in connection with the matter by the DSS.
INEC had earlier presented the report on the delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency to the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities.
INEC Chairman’s representative, who is the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Umoren, at the presentation held in Asaba, the Delta State capital, said the fresh ward and polling unit delineation fieldwork was prompted by the Supreme Court judgment of December 22, 2022, which ordered it to conduct the exercise.
Copies of the delineation report were received by Chief Victor Okumagba, Dr. Andrew Igban, and Dr Joe Bisina on behalf of the Urhobo, Itsekiri, and Ijaw ethnic nationalities, respectively.
In his address during the meeting, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, noted that the meeting was the fifth engagement with the stakeholders since the apex court verdict, which mandated the Commission to carry out the exercise in the three local government areas in Warri Federal Constituency.
Yakubu urged the stakeholders to study the report and respond to it appropriately as the commission was ready to adopt the report as a working document in line with the Supreme Court directive.
However, the planned delineation has stoked tension in the state, with some groups and stakeholders opposed to the exercise.
Recently, scores of Ijaw youths marched to the INEC headquarters in Abuja in support of the exercise.
Drawn from the Gbaramatu, Egbema, Diebiri, and Isaba communities, they said the INEC delineation exercise was fair and in line with the Supreme Court judgment.
They commended INEC for what they called a transparent process, which they said marked the end of years of political marginalisation of the Ijaw people in the constituency.
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