Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have foiled an alleged plot to spark unrest in Warri, Delta State, arresting a foreign-based Army major of Itsekiri origin and several others implicated in the plan.
According to sources familiar with the operation, the officer was allegedly recruited by one Collins to procure weapons aimed at fueling tribal tensions in the oil-rich region.
On Friday night, a DSS insider revealed that operatives from the agency’s Delta Command apprehended the arms supplier during a covert operation near Asaba, Delta State. During the sting operation, security agents seized over 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
“An Itsekiri man serving in a foreign army is alleged to have procured weapons and ammunition at the behest of one Collins to instigate unrest in Warri,” the source said.
The officer was later intercepted by DSS operatives in Lagos as he attempted to leave Nigeria for the United Kingdom.
“All suspects are now in DSS custody. The DSS will conduct a full and transparent investigation and ensure that anyone plotting tribal conflicts is held accountable,” the source added.
It was also gathered that a traditional ruler is under discreet investigation for possible links to the plot.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the DSS or other authorities were unsuccessful as of press time.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions in Delta State following widespread rejection of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) ward delineation exercise by the Itsekiri Nation.
Earlier in April, protests erupted in Warri South Local Government Area over the delineation, leading to the death of one person and the burning of several houses along Odion Road. Security forces, including soldiers and police officers, have since been deployed to maintain peace in the area.
