- The Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended 26-year-old Udeme Stephen for claiming responsibility for a recent attack on Labour Party leader Peter Obi in Edo State.
- Stephen was tracked down using forensic analysis after posting threats on social media, warning that Obi would not survive a planned future visit to Rivers State.
- The suspect, a teacher at a high school in Port Harcourt, is currently in custody and is expected to be charged in court following the conclusion of investigations.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a 26-year-old teacher, Udeme Stephen, for allegedly claiming responsibility for the recent armed attack on the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the arrest followed a series of provocative posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where Stephen, using the handle @stevetom788, boasted about the incident that occurred in Benin City, Edo State.
EDITOR’S PICK
- 540 Candidates Cleared as Lagos APC Moves to Elect LGA Executives
- Court Sentences Pastor to Death for Killing UniUyo Student
- Lagos Teacher Questions Lack of Recognition for One-Day Governor Mentors
The attack in question took place at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat and the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, while Obi and other political leaders were in attendance.
Shortly after the gunmen opened fire, Stephen posted that Obi was “fortunate to have survived” and issued a chilling warning regarding the politician’s upcoming itinerary.
He alleged that his associates in Rivers State “don’t miss targets” and would handle Obi upon his arrival in the state.
Security sources revealed that the DSS launched a covert investigation immediately after the threat went viral.
Utilizing advanced forensic analysis, operatives were able to trace the digital footprint back to Stephen, who was identified as a staff member at Jessica High School in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Stephen is currently being held in custody as the agency concludes its forensic investigation.
According to top security officials, the evidence gathered so far strongly implicates the suspect in the issuance of the death threats.
He is expected to be arraigned in court soon. The arrest highlights the DSS’s zero-tolerance policy toward social media-driven threats against public figures and the potential for digital rhetoric to incite physical violence.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of political figures in Nigeria as the country navigates a complex security landscape.
While the actual gunmen involved in the Benin City shooting remain at large, the DSS emphasized that tracking down those who celebrate or claim responsibility for such acts is a critical step in deterring future violence.
