DSS arrests teacher over threat to assassinate Peter Obi

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a 26-year-old teacher, Udeme Monday Stephen, in connection with death threats made against the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi.

Stephen, who teaches at Jessica High School in Eliozu, Rivers State, was taken into custody following a forensic investigation into posts made on his X account @stevetom788.

The threats came on the heels of a violent incident in Benin City, Edo State, on February 24, where Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, Chief John Oyegun, and several members of the opposition All Democratic Congress (ADC) narrowly escaped death when armed men opened fire at their party meeting.

Shortly after the attack, Stephen allegedly took responsibility for the incident online and issued further warnings. In his posts, he claimed Obi was fortunate to have survived the Benin attack and vowed that future attempts would succeed.

“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,” the post read. It further threatened, “I learnt he’s going to my Rivers State… Na my men go handle that one and dem no dey miss target.”

According to a security source, the DSS immediately launched a covert operation upon detecting the threat. “As a responsible security organisation tasked with VIP protection and counter-espionage, the DSS is always alive to its responsibility of investigating credible intelligence, irrespective of tribe or religion,” the source stated.

The investigation reportedly involved advanced forensic analysis that implicated Stephen, leading to his swift arrest. The suspect is currently in DSS custody and is expected to be charged in court soon.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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