Nigeria arms smuggling suspect not a British soldier - embassy

The British High Commission in Nigeria has denied media reports that a British citizen arrested in the West African country over alleged smuggling was a serving member of the UK military.

Local news outlets last week reported the arrest of the British citizen of Nigerian descent in connection to procurement of illegal arms in the oil-rich Delta region.

In a statement on Wednesday, the high commission said the suspect had been discharged after serving as a junior rank in the UK Armed Forces Reserves.

“The individual identified in recent Nigerian media reporting is not a serving member of the UK Armed Forces," a spokesperson from the British High Commission said.

Airport arrest

It said it cannot release additional personal details regarding the suspect, citing obligations under the the UK’s Data Protection Act.

The suspect was reportedly intercepted in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, as he attempted to board a flight to the UK, according to local reports.

The oil-rich Delta region has over the years been affected by instability amid clashes between government troops and armed groups.

Campaigners marched to the British High Commission early this week to urge the British government to cooperate with Nigerian authorities in investigating the matter.