Ijaw Youths Commend DSS on Arms Seuzure, UK Army Major’s Arrest
…Calls on UK Govt to Probe Arrested Officer for Gun Running

By: Michael Mike

The Ijaw Youths Network has commended the Department of State Services for the seizure of 57 AK 47s, other rifles and hundreds of ammunition in Delta State.

The IYN also said that the arrest of a Delta State-born UK army Major and others in connection with the gun running reinforces public trust and confidence in the nation’s secret service and its commitment to national security.

The IYN Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, were reacting to troubling media reports about the arrest of a gun runner with 57 AK47 assault rifles by the DSS near Asaba, Delta State, last week in a statement on Tuesday.

They commended the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Adeola Ajayi, and his men for combining proactiveness with astounding display of professionalism to prevent mindless bloodletting in Warri.

“We hereby commend the Director General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi and the operatives of the service whose alertness and painstaking investigation led to the arrest of the UK Army Major and the seizure of the arms and ammunition involved.

“What the DSS has forestalled is a vile attempt to foist a dangerous regime of inter-ethnic violence on Warri and its environs.

“We hold the view that the agency deserves commendation as the magnitude of violence and destruction 57 AK47s in the wrong hands can cause is better imagined,” they said.

The IYN leadership urged the leadership of the DSS to ensure a holistic investigation of those behind the botched attempt to return Warri to the days of violence because of disenchantment over the INEC ward delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency.

They appealed to the DSS to be consistent with the good work they have done, by bringing to justice all those involved in the crime, including the UK Army Major.

The IYN said that disagreements over issues should be resolved through dialogue rather than a resort to ethnic-inspired violence.

The IYN also called on the British High Commission in Nigeria to treat a petition sent to it on the involvement of the UK military officer with the required sense of urgency.

Ebikabo and Ebiaridor said it is disheartening that a high ranking military officer could be linked to a failed attempt to stoke avoidable crisis in Nigeria.

They urged the UK Government to clarify the status of the said Major whose actions have become glaringly inimical to the good image of the UK military.

They urged the inhabitants of the Warri Federal Constituency-the Ijaws, Urhobo and Itsekiri to be wary of people with dangerous and sinister intents to start ethnic violence in the city.

Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organizations in Nigeria has called on the British Government to partner with the Federal Government to investigate the activities of the Major arrested over alleged illegal arms procurement intended to exacerbate tensions in Delta State.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the British High Commissioner in Nigeria dated April 28, 2025.

The CSOs alleged that the major’s action was a threat to Nigeria’s internal security.

The letter was jointly signed by Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, Leader of the coalition; Zekeri Momoh-Saliu, Secretary; Mohammed Idris, Member; and Hugo Okafor, Member.

Some of the members of the coalition are the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, Coalition for Democratic Watchdogs, Initiative for Voter Awareness and Electoral Reforms, and the Global Centre for Conscience Living Against Corruption.

There has been disenchantment and
tension following the delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

This had thrown up suspicions that the arms were procured by those opposed to the exercise.

Security sources say that the DSS is also looking into the activities of a powerful traditional ruler in connection with the matter.

INEC had earlier presented the report on the delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency representatives of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities.

The Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Umoren, who represented the Commission’s Chairman at the presentation in Asaba, said that the fresh ward and polling unit delineation fieldwork was necessitated by the Supreme Court judgment of December 22, 2022, which ordered it to conduct the exercise.

INEC gave copies of the delineation report to Chief Victor Okumagba, Dr. Andrew Igban, and Dr Joe Bisina on behalf of the Urhobo, Itsekiri, and Ijaw ethnic nationalities, respectively.

Ijaw Youths Commend DSS on Arms Seuzure, UK Army Major’s Arrest

37 Cattle Killed In Rampant Attacks on Pastoralists in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

In the heart of Plateau State, the shadow of insecurity looms ever larger over its rural communities, where the livelihood of pastoralists hangs in the balance. The recent savage attack on livestock in Tashek Community, Riyom Local Government Area, which left 37 cattle dead, serves as yet another grim reminder of the violence that continuously plagues these pastoral communities.

The devastating incident occurred around 1 p.m. on a seemingly ordinary Sunday, yet it has exacerbated fears among local herders, pointing to the escalating threat they face not just from the elements of nature, but from what security agencies described as unidentified assailants who strike at will. The Chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ibrahim Babayo, characterized the attack as “unprovoked” and a deliberate attempt to destabilize their livelihoods.

“These killings are not random; they are part of a broader scheme designed to undermine our economy and leave us vulnerable,” Babayo asserted, as he urgently appealed for more decisive action from security agencies. His calls joined a growing chorus that challenges the effectiveness of the government and response agencies tasked with ensuring the safety of citizens in the region.

As local herders grapple with these recurrent assaults on their cattle, the responses from security agencies have been disheartening. Although security agencies were dispatched to assess the situation promptly after the incident, such reactions have become routine and often insufficient in addressing the underlying issues of insecurity in Plateau State. The attackers, frequently cited as “unknown gunmen,” remain anonymous in official narratives, despite the strong belief among local residents that these individuals are not strangers to their communities.

The implications of these killings extend beyond the immediate economic consequences for pastoralists. Each attack fosters an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, compelling community members to reconsider their daily routines and livelihoods. Pastoralists, who have long contributed to the agricultural value chain, find themselves forced into a corner, struggling to maintain their way of life amidst growing hostility.

Contrastingly, voices from other community factions echo a narrative that further complicates the situation. Barr. Dalyop Nwantiri, National President of the Berom Youth Movement, suggests that herders use their livestock as shields during conflicts, alleging that armed herders sometimes blend into the cattle to launch surprise attacks on communities. “It’s a vicious cycle that perpetuates engagement and heightens tensions,” he stated, a sentiment that underscores the urgent necessity for reconciliation and dialog among all stakeholders.

This cycle of violence raises pressing questions about the adequacy of governmental response. Amidst ongoing assaults, residents and advocates are calling for comprehensive strategies that extend beyond mere condemnations, investigation or reassurances of security by government of pleateau. They demand proactive measures to identify and apprehend the perpetrators who remain entrenched within the communities they terrorize.

“They are known in the communities,” Babayo stated emphatically. “Yet, despite this knowledge, we see little to no action to bring them to justice.” The irony of labeling the attackers as unknown when they are often familiar faces only heightens frustrations among local pastoralists, who feel that their pleas for protection go unheard.

As pastoralists in Plateau State endure the throes of violence that threatens their existence, a unified and determined effort from government and security agencies is more crucial than ever. The silence surrounding these recurring attacks must be broken; it is time for action, accountability, and a reinvestment in the security frameworks that protect all citizens. It is not just the fate of herders at stake, but the overall stability and prosperity of the region as a whole. Because, you only get to hear a different story when reprisals are carried out. The time to act is NOW.

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region

37 Cattle Killed In Rampant Attacks on Pastoralists in Plateau

26 Killed, 3 Injured in IED Attack Along Rann–Gamboru Ngala Road

By: Zagazola Makama

At least 26 people, including women and children, were killed on Monday following an improvised explosive device (IED) attack along the Rann–Kala Balge to Gamboru Ngala road in Borno State.
Zagazola gathered that multiple civilian vehicles travelling from Rann, in Kala Balge Local Government Area, towards Gamboru Ngala, were impacted by a series of explosives planted along the route.
Three other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident, security sources said.
According to the report, the convoy unknowingly entered an area where the IEDs had been strategically placed. The explosives were triggered by vehicle movement, resulting in immediate and significant casualties.
Emergency response teams were deployed promptly to the scene to carry out evacuation and provide medical assistance to the wounded.
Security operatives have since cordoned off the affected area and commenced clearance operations to prevent further incidents.

Meanwhile, the injured victims have been evacuated to nearby medical facilities where they are receiving treatment.

26 Killed, 3 Injured in IED Attack Along Rann–Gamboru Ngala Road