The British High Commission in Nigeria has denied claims that a man recently arrested in Delta State for allegedly attempting to procure illegal arms is a serving member of the United Kingdom’s military.
This clarification comes after a group of Niger Delta stakeholders and civil society organizations submitted a petition to the Commission, raising concerns about an alleged scheme to destabilize Warri, a city in Delta State. The petitioners identified the suspect as Micah Polo, claiming he holds the rank of major in the British Army, and urged the UK government to cooperate with Nigerian security agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly.
According to intelligence reports, Polo—who is Nigerian by origin—was apprehended during a covert sting operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Delta State. The operation reportedly took place near Asaba last Friday, and involved the seizure of a significant cache of weapons, including more than 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
Security sources disclosed that Polo was later intercepted in Lagos while allegedly attempting to flee the country aboard a flight to the United Kingdom. Efforts are currently underway to locate and arrest his alleged accomplices, several of whom are still at large.
In response to growing speculation, the British High Commission released an official statement on Wednesday to clarify Polo’s military affiliation. “The individual identified in recent Nigerian media reporting is not a serving member of the UK Armed Forces,” the Commission stated.
It further explained that while Polo did have a background in the UK military, his involvement was limited and non-senior. “He previously served in the UK Armed Forces Reserves, and only held a junior rank—not a commissioned officer,” the statement noted.
The High Commission emphasized that under UK common law and the Data Protection Act, it is bound by confidentiality obligations that prevent it from disclosing additional personal details about former or current military personnel. As such, it stated, no further information on Polo’s service record would be made public.
The development has heightened concerns over illegal arms trafficking and regional security threats in the Niger Delta. Local authorities and security experts have praised the DSS for the successful interception, noting that such operations are critical in preventing instability and violence in the region.
