The British Government has clarified that the man recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Delta State for alleged arms smuggling is not a serving officer of the UK Armed Forces.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the British High Commission in Nigeria confirmed that the suspect had ties to the British military in the past, but said he was never an officer and is no longer in active service.
“The individual identified in recent Nigerian media reporting is not a serving member of the UK Armed Forces,” the High Commission stated.
Further details revealed that the man once served as a junior-ranked reservist in the UK military but was discharged. At no point, the Commission said, did he hold the rank of a commissioned officer.
Citing legal and privacy laws, including the UK’s Data Protection Act, the High Commission said it cannot share additional personal information about the suspect.
The Commission called on media organisations to report the facts accurately and avoid spreading misinformation, especially on matters involving international security and diplomatic relations.
The DSS has not released more details on the case, but investigations into the arms smuggling operation are said to be ongoing.
