The State Department of Services (DSS) has 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.
The agency also arrested an Itsekiri that serves in the British army (retained name) that supposedly acquired weapons at the request of a Collins.
Multiple sources in the DSS confirmed Friday night that the agents of the Delta del DSS command arrested the main suspect, a specialization in the British army and several associates in relation to the illegal supply of weapons.
According to the reports, the British army officer was intercepted in Lagos while addressing a flight to the United Kingdom, while his associates were arrested in Asaba.
A source declared: “It is alleged that an Itsekiri that serves in the British army had acquired weapons and ammunition at the request of a Collins to instigate the riots in Warri.
“During an undercover exchange near Asaba in the state of Delta, the agents of the DSS Delta command arrested the arms supplier and several associates, taking more than 50 AK-47 rifles, six bomb action shotguns and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
“Shortly after, DSS agents in Lagos intercepted the British specialty while trying to cross the Nigeria border on the road to the United Kingdom.
“All suspects are now in custody of DSS. The DSS will carry out a complete and transparent investigation and hold anyone who is in accounts of tribal conflicts.”
There are suspicions that the arms were acquired by those opposite to the delineation of the rooms and voting units in the federal constituency of Warri.
A powerful traditional ruler is also investigating discreetly in relation to the matter.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had previously submitted the report on the delineation of Salas and Voting Units in the Federal Circumscription of Warri to the ethnic nationalities Ijaw, Itsekiri and Uhobo.
The representative of the President of the INEC, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Umoren, in the presentation held in Asaba, the capital of the state of Delta, said that the Supreme Court Judgment of December 22, 2022, which ordered that he carry out the year.
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The copies of the delineation report were received by Chief Victor Okumagba, Dr. Andrew Igban and Dr. Joe Bisina in the name of the ethnic nationalities of Uhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw, respectively.
In his speech during the meeting, the President of INEC said that the meeting was the fifth commitment to the interested parties from the verdict of the Apex court, which ordered the commission to carry out the exercise in the three areas of the local government in the Federal constituency of Warri.
He urged the interested parties to study the report and respond properly, since the commission was ready to adopt the report as an online working document with the Directive of the Supreme Court.
However, the planned delineation has fueled the tension in the state, with some groups and interested parties opposed to the exercise.
Recently, dozens of young people from Ijaw marched to INEC headquarters in Abuja in support of the exercise.
Extracted from the communities of Gbaramatu, Egbema, Diebiri and Isaba, they said that the INEC delineation exercise was fair and in line with the sentence of the Supreme Court.
They praised INEC for what they called a transparent process, which they said that it marked the end of the years of political marginalization of the people of Ijaw in the constituency.
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