DSS Arrests Army Major in Plot to Spark Unrest in Warri

A chilling plot to destabilize Warri, Delta State, has been thwarted, as the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested a Nigerian Army major and several accomplices on April 25, 2025, according to credible posts on X and local media reports. The major, whose identity remains undisclosed, is accused of orchestrating a scheme to incite violence in the oilunofficial sources, plunging the oil-rich city into chaos.The DSS operation, conducted in Asaba, Delta State’s capital, uncovered a massive cache of weapons, including 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, allegedly intended to fuel unrest. Sources close to the DSS revealed that the major, reportedly acting on orders from a figure named Collins, was intercepted in Lagos while attempting to flee to the United Kingdom. His associates were apprehended during a covert arms exchange near Asaba, exposing a network aimed at disrupting peace in Warri, a city already tense from historical ethnic disputes.This alarming development comes amid ongoing sensitivities in Warri, where a 2022 Supreme Court ruling mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission to redraw electoral boundaries, stirring debates among the Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw communities. The seized arsenal suggests a calculated attempt to exploit these divisions, potentially escalating long-standing rivalries into open conflict. For Warri residents, this news is a stark reminder of the fragility of peace in a region where oil wealth and ethnic diversity often collide.The DSS is intensifying its investigation, with efforts underway to dismantle the network behind the plot. Authorities are urging calm, emphasizing that swift action has averted a crisis. Yet, the incident exposes a deeper vulnerability—how easily a single actor can threaten stability in a community striving for harmony. As Warri holds its breath, Nigerians are left to ponder: what drives a decorated officer to such betrayal, and how close did this spark come to igniting a firestorm?