{"id":4497,"date":"2025-07-21T20:43:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T20:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/21\/niger-delta-group-demands-probe-of-former-british-soldier-linked-to-olu-of-itsekiri-over-guns-smuggling-accuses-dss-nigerias-first-lady-of-cover-up\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T20:43:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T20:43:42","slug":"niger-delta-group-demands-probe-of-former-british-soldier-linked-to-olu-of-itsekiri-over-guns-smuggling-accuses-dss-nigerias-first-lady-of-cover-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/21\/niger-delta-group-demands-probe-of-former-british-soldier-linked-to-olu-of-itsekiri-over-guns-smuggling-accuses-dss-nigerias-first-lady-of-cover-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Niger Delta Group Demands Probe Of Former British Soldier Linked To Olu Of Itsekiri Over Guns Smuggling, Accuses DSS, Nigeria\u2019s First Lady Of Cover-Up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Esther David<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group raised the alarm over what it termed \u201cdangerous collusion and impunity in arms smuggling and criminal activities\u201d linked to top figures in the Niger Delta and beyond including the Olu of Warri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Niger Delta Watchmen, a regional advocacy group, has demanded that the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government, urgently investigate an alleged \u201cnotorious\u201d British arms smuggler, Major Mica Polo, linked to the Olu of Warri, who is being allegedly protected by political elites and complicit security operatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group made the demand in an open letter dated July 16, 2025, signed by its Chairman, Kelvin Kevwe and the Secretary, Workman J. Sylvester, and addressed to Nigerian authorities and the international community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group raised the alarm over what it termed \u201cdangerous collusion and impunity in arms smuggling and criminal activities\u201d linked to top figures in the Niger Delta and beyond including the Olu of Warri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe, the Niger Delta Watchmen, write with a heavy heart and growing concern about the increasing collusion and corruption that is enabling criminal elements to thrive within our borders,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe situation is now critical, with arms smugglers, militia recruiters and political elites working together to destabilise the region, all under the protection of powerful figures within Nigeria’s security agencies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of the allegations is Collins Edema, said to be the Director of AIM for the Olu of Warri, whom the group accused of coordinating arms smuggling and the training of militant youth in the Niger Delta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two of his alleged associates were identified as Fatty and Major Mica Polo, a British army officer who was recently arrested by the DSS in connection with the arms stockpile uncovered in Delta State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group alleged that they were training Itsekiri youth in armed combat and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Esther David The group raised the alarm over what it termed \u201cdangerous collusion and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[1272,1271,1273],"class_list":["post-4497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime","tag-accuses-dss","tag-niger-delta-group-demands-probe-of-former-british-soldier-linked-to-olu-of-itsekiri-over-guns-smuggling","tag-nigerias-first-lady-of-cover-up"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1172-1.jpg?fit=720%2C405&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4461,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/20\/niger-delta-group-raises-alarm-over-plots-to-sweep-itsekiri-born-british-soldier-micah-polo-gun-smuggling-case-and-ariyi-emamis-younger-brother-drug-smuggling-case-under-the-carpet\/","url_meta":{"origin":4497,"position":0},"title":"Niger Delta Group Raises Alarm Over Plots To Sweep Itsekiri Born British Soldier, Micah Polo Gun Smuggling Case And Ariyi Emami\u2019s Younger Brother Drug Smuggling Case Under The Carpet","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin AN OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NSA, DSS, NIGERIANS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: EXPOSING THE DANGEROUS COLLUSION AND IMPUNITY IN ARMS SMUGGLING AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES Date: July 16, 2025 To: The Federal Government of Nigeria The National Security Adviser (NSA) The Directorate of State Security (DSS)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-2-1.jpg?fit=683%2C1175&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-2-1.jpg?fit=683%2C1175&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-2-1.jpg?fit=683%2C1175&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4406,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/14\/just-in-niger-delta-group-condemns-pipeline-repair-contract-awarded-to-olu-of-itsekiri\/","url_meta":{"origin":4497,"position":1},"title":"JUST IN: Niger Delta Group Condemns Pipeline Repair Contract Awarded To Olu Of Itsekiri","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David Prominent Ijaw group under the auspices of Ijaw People's Development Initiative has called on the federal government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL to terminate pipeline repair contracts of SECTIONAL REPLACEMENT OF 14.4KM WEAK SECTIONS OF TRANS-FORCADOSPIPELINE OPERATIONS which was awarded to the PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0881-1.jpg?fit=863%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0881-1.jpg?fit=863%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0881-1.jpg?fit=863%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0881-1.jpg?fit=863%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 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"News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/002b117b-471a-45e8-9df0-c9caf516d2c2-1-1.jpg?fit=803%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/002b117b-471a-45e8-9df0-c9caf516d2c2-1-1.jpg?fit=803%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/002b117b-471a-45e8-9df0-c9caf516d2c2-1-1.jpg?fit=803%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/002b117b-471a-45e8-9df0-c9caf516d2c2-1-1.jpg?fit=803%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 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"News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1882-1.jpg?fit=955%2C633&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1882-1.jpg?fit=955%2C633&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1882-1.jpg?fit=955%2C633&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1882-1.jpg?fit=955%2C633&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4960,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/10\/27\/the-stool-of-the-olu-of-itsekiri-has-become-a-symbol-of-disgrace-and-degeneration__says-group\/","url_meta":{"origin":4497,"position":4},"title":"\u201cThe Stool Of The Olu Of Itsekiri Has Become A Symbol Of Disgrace And Degeneration\u201d__Says Group","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"October 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin WARRI HISTORICAL MOVEMENT PRESS STATEMENT THE OLU STOOL HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF DISGRACE AND DEGENERATION The once-respected throne in Warri, the Olu stool, has fallen from grace. What used to symbolize royalty, wisdom and peace has now become a breeding ground for crime, corruption and moral\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4114.jpg?fit=576%2C426&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4114.jpg?fit=576%2C426&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4114.jpg?fit=576%2C426&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4961,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/10\/27\/the-stool-of-the-olu-of-itsekiri-has-become-a-symbol-of-disgrace-and-degeneration__says-group-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":4497,"position":5},"title":"\u201cThe Stool Of The Olu Of Itsekiri Has Become A Symbol Of Disgrace And Degeneration\u201d__Says Group","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"October 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin WARRI HISTORICAL MOVEMENT PRESS STATEMENT THE OLU STOOL HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF DISGRACE AND DEGENERATION The once-respected throne in Warri, the Olu stool, has fallen from grace. What used to symbolize royalty, wisdom and peace has now become a breeding ground for crime, corruption and moral\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4114.jpg?fit=576%2C426&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4114.jpg?fit=576%2C426&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_4114.jpg?fit=576%2C426&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1ax","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4497\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}