Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services, has arrested a 26-year-old school teacher for allegedly issuing death threats against former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following last week’s shooting incident in Benin, Edo State.
The suspect, identified as Udeme Monday Stephen, was picked up after he reportedly took to his X account, @stevetom788, claiming responsibility for the attack and vowing to strike again.
Gunmen had fired shots at the secretariat of the African Democratic Congress and at the residence of former Edo State governor, John Odigie-Oyegun, during a political gathering attended by Obi and other opposition figures.
Also present at the event was former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata.
Shortly after the incident, Stephen allegedly posted a series of inflammatory messages online, boasting about the attack and threatening further violence against Obi ahead of a proposed visit to Rivers State.
In one of the posts, he warned that Obi “was lucky” to have survived the Benin incident and suggested that “next time” would be different. He further alleged that associates would “handle” the former presidential candidate during his visit to Rivers.
Security sources said the DSS immediately commenced a covert investigation once the threat surfaced.
Using digital forensic tools, operatives reportedly traced the account to Stephen, who was identified as a teacher at Jessica High School in Eliozu, within the Umuehere Community of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State.
A senior security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the suspect was arrested after preliminary findings linked him to the threatening post.
“No sooner had the message been published than operatives began tracking its source. Forensic analysis led to the suspect, who is now in custody,” the source said, adding that he would be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations.
The DSS has yet to issue an official public statement on the matter.
However, security analysts say the swift arrest underscores heightened vigilance amid rising political tensions and concerns over the safety of public figures.
