The British High Commission has dismissed reports suggesting that a current member of the United Kingdom Armed Forces is involved in an alleged illegal arms procurement scheme in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Commission clarified that the individual mentioned in recent Nigerian media reports is no longer affiliated with the UK military.
“The person referred to in these reports is not a serving member of the UK Armed Forces,” the statement noted.
Further clarification revealed that the suspect had once served as a junior member of the UK Armed Forces Reserves but has since been discharged. It was also confirmed that the individual never held the rank of a commissioned officer.
Due to legal obligations under common law and the UK’s Data Protection Act, the Commission said it could not release more information about the individual’s service history or personal details.
“The individual did serve as a junior rank in the UK Armed Forces Reserves before being discharged. While in service, he was never a commissioned officer,” the statement reiterated.
Earlier reports indicated that the suspect, alleged to be involved in an arms trafficking operation intended to spark ethnic conflict in the Niger Delta, was apprehended by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in a covert sting operation.
The arrest reportedly took place near Asaba, Delta State, where over 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered during an exchange.
While the suspect was intercepted at the Lagos airport attempting to leave for the UK, his accomplices were reportedly arrested during the arms deal in Asaba.
In response, a group of Niger Delta stakeholders and civil society organisations visited the British High Commission on Monday, calling for a comprehensive investigation and urging the UK government to support Nigerian authorities in identifying and prosecuting all those involved.
