The British High Commission in Nigeria has officially refuted reports suggesting that a serving officer in the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces is involved in a high-profile illegal arms procurement scheme currently under investigation in Nigeria. The clarification comes amid heightened concerns surrounding an alleged plot to smuggle military-grade weapons into the Niger Delta region.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission emphasized that the suspect identified in local media reports is not a current member of the UK military. Instead, the individual previously served as a junior rank in the UK Armed Forces Reserves and had been discharged well before the recent scandal emerged.
“The individual identified in recent Nigerian media reporting is not a serving member of the UK Armed Forces,” the High Commission stated.
“Whilst in the Reserves, he was a junior rank, not a commissioned officer.”
Due to the United Kingdom’s common law principles and obligations under the Data Protection Act, the Commission declined to disclose further personal details about the former reservist. The diplomatic mission underscored its commitment to protecting the privacy of both current and former personnel, even amid public interest in the case.
The controversy erupted following revelations that Major Micah Polo, an Itsekiri-born former British Army officer, was allegedly involved in a covert weapons transaction intended to destabilize parts of the oil-rich Niger Delta. According to intelligence reports, Polo was allegedly recruited by a known arms coordinator, identified as Collins, to procure and deliver firearms and ammunition intended for use in tribal conflicts.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Delta State were said to have intercepted the illicit arms deal during a sting operation last Friday night near Asaba. The raid led to the seizure of over 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and more than 3,000 rounds of live ammunition.
Polo was reportedly arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos as he attempted to flee Nigeria aboard a UK-bound flight. His accomplices were also apprehended at the scene of the attempted arms exchange.
The scandal has sparked significant outrage among civil society organisations and community stakeholders in the Niger Delta. On Monday, a coalition of advocacy groups and regional leaders staged a protest at the British High Commission in Abuja, demanding full transparency and urging the UK government to cooperate with Nigerian authorities.
“We call on the British government to fully support investigations by the DSS and help uncover all co-conspirators, especially those still at large,” a spokesman for the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum said during the protest.
In response, the British High Commission expressed readiness to engage with Nigerian officials within the bounds of legal and diplomatic frameworks, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to peace and security in Nigeria.
The arms trafficking scandal has reignited concerns over security threats in the Niger Delta, a region historically troubled by militancy, ethnic tensions, and illegal bunkering. Experts warn that the influx of illegal weapons could further destabilize the region if not promptly curtailed.
Security analysts also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing arms smuggling networks that exploit military or diplomatic connections.