The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a 26-year-old man suspected of involvement in the alleged assassination attempt on 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Benin City, Edo State.
Recall Dockaysworld reported that Obi, alongside former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun, and leaders and members of the African Democratic Congress, narrowly escaped death on February 24 when armed men opened fire during a political meeting in Benin.
Shortly after the attack, a man identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly claimed responsibility on his X handle, @stevetom788, and issued further threats against Obi.
“We warned Obi against his entrance into Edo State, but he mistook our resolve for his Obidiots online noise. Thank his stars he (Obi) survived this one…,” Stephen wrote.
“I learnt he’s going to my Rivers State… Na my men go handle that one and dem no dey miss target… Speak no peace to a bastard and wish him no long life, for he’s destined to die,” he added.
Counter-insurgency and security expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the arrest in a post on his official X handle on Monday.
According to the post, a top security source revealed that immediately after the threat was issued, DSS operatives launched a covert investigation, deploying forensic tools to trace and apprehend the suspect.
The source identified Stephen as a teacher at Jessica High School in Eliozu, Umuehere Community, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“I strongly believe that the outcome of the agency’s forensic investigations implicated the suspect,” the source said.
“You know that, as a responsible security organisation saddled with the task of counter-espionage, VIP protection, among other asset protection duties, the DSS is always alive to its responsibility of investigating credible intelligence, irrespective of tribe or religion.
“They swiftly deployed operatives and the man who threatened Peter Obi was nabbed and is in custody,” the source added, noting that Stephen would soon be charged to court.
