Peter Obi Assassination Bid: DSS Apprehends Suspect

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday apprehended an individual suspected of involvement in the recent attempt to assassinate the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The incident, which occurred on 24th February, saw Mr Obi, alongside John Odigie-Oyegun, a former chairman of the APC, and several chieftains of the opposition All Democratic Congress (ADC), narrowly escape death. Armed men fired multiple shots at them during a party meeting held in Benin.

Suspect's Online Threats Surface

Following the attack, an individual named Udeme Monday Stephen posted on his X account, @stevetom788, claiming responsibility for the assault. He further issued threats of future attacks against Mr Obi.

Stephen explicitly stated online that Obi was fortunate to have survived the Benin incident, vowing that the former presidential candidate would not be so lucky next time. His posts included ominous remarks such as: “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.”

He continued with further threats: “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.”

DSS Investigation Leads to Arrest

A security source revealed that immediately after Stephen issued these threats, DSS operatives initiated a covert investigation. They deployed forensic analysis to track and subsequently apprehend him.

The source disclosed that the suspect is a 26-year-old named Udeme Monday Stephen, who teaches at Jessica High School in Eliozu, Rivers State, specifically within the Umuehere Community in Obio-Akpor LGA.

“It is strongly believed that the outcome of the agency’s forensic investigations implicated the suspect,” the source emphasised. They added, “You know that, as a responsible security organisation tasked with 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.”

The source concluded: “They swiftly deployed operatives and the man who threatened Peter Obi was nabbed and is in custody.” Stephen is expected to be charged in court imminently.