Nigerian authorities have arrested a British citizen, identified as a former member of the UK Armed Forces Reserves, over suspected involvement in arms smuggling activities linked to the country’s volatile Niger Delta region.
The suspect was apprehended at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos as he prepared to board a flight to the United Kingdom. Local sources say the man, reportedly of Nigerian heritage, is under investigation for attempting to procure illegal weapons intended for use in areas affected by militant unrest.
Initial speculation in Nigerian media suggested the suspect was a serving British army officer. However, the British High Commission in Abuja has denied those reports, confirming the individual is no longer in military service.
“The individual identified in recent Nigerian media reporting is not a serving member of the UK Armed Forces,” the High Commission clarified in a statement issued on Wednesday. “He had previously served at a junior rank in the UK Armed Forces Reserves but is no longer active.”
Citing the UK’s Data Protection Act, the Commission declined to release further personal details about the suspect.
The arrest has drawn attention to ongoing arms trafficking concerns in the Niger Delta, a region rich in oil but plagued by years of conflict involving militant groups. These armed actors have frequently targeted oil infrastructure, kidnapped personnel, and clashed with security forces, costing Nigeria billions in lost revenue.
Elsewhere in the country, insecurity continues to escalate, particularly in the North-East and North-West where terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, alongside armed kidnapping gangs, remain active. Security analysts have repeatedly raised questions about the sources of weapons fueling these crises, with some hinting at international supply networks.
Earlier this week, civil society groups staged a peaceful demonstration at the British High Commission in Abuja, urging the UK government to cooperate fully with Nigerian authorities in the ongoing investigation.
So far, the Nigerian government has not disclosed full details of the case, but the arrest has intensified calls for enhanced international collaboration in tackling arms smuggling and addressing the broader security threats facing the country.