The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a 26-year-old man allegedly linked to the recent armed attack targeting the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, in Benin City.
Obi reportedly escaped unharmed alongside former John Oyegun and other political figures during a violent disruption of a political gathering on February 24. The meeting, attended by leaders and supporters of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), came under attack when unidentified gunmen allegedly opened fire, causing panic among attendees.
Following the incident, a man identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly posted a series of threatening messages on social media platform X, using the handle @stevetom788, where he claimed responsibility for the attack and issued fresh threats against Obi.
In the posts, the suspect reportedly suggested that Obi had been warned against visiting Edo State and described the former Anambra State governor’s survival as mere luck. He further threatened that future visits by the politician, particularly to Rivers State, would not end the same way.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed on Monday that the suspect had been taken into custody by operatives of the DSS following an intensive intelligence operation.
According to Makama, security sources revealed that DSS operatives swiftly initiated a covert investigation immediately after the online threats surfaced. Advanced digital forensic tools were reportedly deployed to trace the origin of the posts and identify the individual behind the account.
Preliminary findings indicated that Stephen is a teacher employed at Jessica High School in Eliozu, located within the Umuehere community of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State.
A senior security source quoted in the report stated that forensic evidence gathered during the investigation strongly linked the suspect to the threatening messages and alleged involvement in the attack plot.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement detailing possible charges, while investigations are said to be ongoing as security agencies intensify efforts to prevent further politically motivated violence
