The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a suspect allegedly behind the recent attempt to assassinate the former governor of Anambra State and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in2023, Mr. Peter Obi, in Benin, the Edo State capital.
Mr Obi and a former governor of Edo State, Chief John Oyegun, as well as several chieftains and members of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), on February 24, escaped death by the whiskers when armed men fired several gunshots at them at a meeting of stakeholders of the party in Benin.
However, shortly after the attack, one Udeme Monday Stephen, posted on his X account @stevetom788 and claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened further attacks on Obi.
Stephen stated on his X post that Obi was lucky to have escaped in Benin, and vowed that the former presidential candidate wouldn’t be that lucky next time.
Stephen wrote; “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…
“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,” Udeme posted.
A top security source disclosed that, no sooner had Stephen issued the threat than DSS operatives began covert investigation, deploying forensic analysis to track and arrest him.
The source further said the suspect is 26 year old called Udeme Monday Stephen, and teaches at Jessica High School in Eliozu, Rivers State, at Umuehere Community in Obio-Akpor LGA of the state.
According to the security source; “I strongly believe that the outcome of the agency’s forensic investigations implicated the suspect.
“You know that, as a responsible security organisation saddled with the task of 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.
“They swiftly deployed operatives and the man who threatened Peter Obi was nabbed and is in custody,” the source said.
It was also gathered that Stephen would soon be charged to court.
