DSS arrests British Army Officer, others, seizes 57 AK47

A major in the British Army (name withheld) and accomplices have been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security ( DSS) in connection with  the smuggling of over 50 AK 47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, The Nation has learnt.

It was gathered that the suspects were picked up in Lagos and Asaba, Delta State Capital

The Nation gathered that the British Army Officer, who is of one of the ethnic nationalities in Delta, allegedly procured the weapons at the behest of one man(name withheld).

Multiple sources in the agency confirmed over  the weekend that the prime suspect and several associates in connection with the illegal arms supply have been detained.

The British army officer was reportedly intercepted in Lagos en route to the United Kingdom while his associates were apprehended in Asaba.

A source stated: ‘’A man 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.

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‘’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. The DSS will carry out a full and transparent investigation and hold anyone found plotting tribal conflicts to account.’’

The Nation alleged the arms were procured by those allegedly opposed to the delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.

A traditional ruler is also being discreetly investigated in connection with the matter, it was learnt.

The Independent National Electoral Commission 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.

The INEC chairman’s representative, State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Umoren, at the presentation in Asaba, the Delta State capital, said that 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 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 the Warri federal constituency.

He 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.

DSS arrests British Army Officer, others, seizes 57 AK47

Attack on Borno village claims 12 lives, Gwoza Local govt area targeted

No fewer than 12 people were killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists along Kirawa road and Bokko Ghide community of Pulka District in Gwoza local government area of Borno state in the last 24 hours.

Attack on Borno village claims 12 lives, Gwoza Local govt area targeted

Explosion rocks Rivers community, kills 5

Five people, including four women, have been confirmed dead following a fire outbreak caused by an explosion in a residential area of Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area in Rivers State, on Saturday.

Reports indicated that the blast erupted in one of the rooms within a compound where illegally refined petroleum products were being stored.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, an environmental activist and Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, said the victims had been engaged in buying, storing, and reselling illegally refined kerosene and other fuel products.

Dumnamene urged the Federal Government to legalise modular refineries in the Niger Delta region to help prevent future tragedies, while also warning against acts like pipeline vandalism and the operation of illegal refineries.

His statement reads in part: “The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has received and confirmed reports of an explosion and fire incident at a storage of illegally refined petroleum products in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State.

“The inferno is said to have occurred in a house where people purchased and stored illegally refined petroleum products, including condensate, for resale in the area.

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“Members of the Advocacy Centre youth volunteers network under the auspices of the One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta in ONELGA told the Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, that the incident occurred in the late hours of Saturday, April 26 by about 11AM, killing five persons, four females and one male burnt beyond recognition.”

Dumnamene also called for a detailed probe into the explosion and cautioned locals, especially youths, against participating in the illegal oil trade, including storing petroleum products in homes.

“We also used the opportunity to renew our call on the federal government to legalise artisanal refineries in the Niger Delta through the establishment of its July 27, 2020, proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) and/or modular refineries for artisanal refiners in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region to mitigate incidents of this nature,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the deaths and stated that investigations are ongoing.

Iringe-Koko revealed that the explosion was triggered when a resident attempted to cook noodles using a stove within the premises, igniting the fire.

She said, “What really caused the fire was that a resident brought a cooking stove to the place and was preparing noodles, which ignited the fire.

“She and three other women were burnt beyond recognition, and sadly, they lost their lives, including one of them who came to buy condensate (illegally refined kerosene). Investigation is ongoing.”

Explosion rocks Rivers community, kills 5