Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has taken into custody a 26-year-old man, identified as Udeme Monday Stephen, following a forensic-led investigation into threats and claims of responsibility circulating on social media after an armed attack in Benin City, Edo State that put Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, and several opposition figures at risk. The development marks the first public law-enforcement breakthrough since the violent incident on February 24, which triggered widespread national concern over political security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Benin City episode unfolded when gunmen opened fire at a political gathering attended by Mr. Obi, former All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman and ex-governor of Edo State Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) shortly after a rally organised to formally welcome former Labour Party governorship candidate Olumide Akpata into the ADC. Vehicles were reportedly struck by bullets and property damaged in the coordinated assault. Law enforcement has confirmed that those targeted managed to escape unharmed, but the incident was widely condemned as an “assassination attempt” by party loyalists and civil society groups.
Within hours of the attack, Mr. Stephen is alleged to have taken to his X account @stevetom788, where he posted messages claiming responsibility for the gunfire and issuing further threats against Obi’s life. In one of the posts cited by investigators, Stephen wrote that Obi had been warned against entering Edo State, suggesting that those warnings had been ignored and adding ominous references to further attempts in Rivers State, along with disparaging language directed at the former presidential candidate.
Security officials said the DSS initiated covert investigative procedures following the emergence of the online posts, using forensic tracking and digital intelligence techniques to trace activity linked to the account back to Stephen, who teaches at Jessica High School in Eliozu, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State. The service has maintained that the arrest stemmed from credible intelligence and that investigative leads pointed strongly to his involvement in disseminating threatening material and potentially coordinating aspects of the incident.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether Stephen acted alone, or if there are other individuals involved or being sought in connection with the attack. Nor has any formal allegation of state or sponsored involvement been substantiated by law enforcement, despite political narratives in some quarters linking the event to broader tensions within and between parties. What is clear from official accounts is that the DSS considered the online threats sufficiently serious to prioritise rapid tracing and apprehension.
The political violence in Benin City occurred as Nigeria’s political environment becomes increasingly fraught. Mr. Obi and the ADC characterised the shooting as a premeditated attempt to undermine opposition participation, with the Obidient Movement publicly condemning the violence as an escalation from rhetoric to lethal action. They pointed to inflammatory statements by some political figures in 2025 warning Obi not to enter Edo State without clearance as having potentially contributed to a climate of intimidation that could embolden violent actors.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the Edo State Government issued a statement rejecting claims that any official sanction or involvement motivated the violence, describing allegations of government orchestration as “false, malicious and a clear misrepresentation.” The state’s spokesperson emphasised that security and public safety remained priorities regardless of political affiliation, and suggested that internal party conflicts may have played a role in the incident.
Legal analysts note that the DSS’s arrest of a suspect linked to threatening online content and claimed responsibility represents a broader challenge security agencies face in an era where violent acts and digital declarations can swiftly converge. Investigators are likely to examine the suspect’s connections further, including whether financial, organisational, or ideological support networks were involved. Details regarding formal charges and the progression of the case through the judicial system have not yet been disclosed, though officials have indicated that prosecution proceedings will follow upon completion of investigations.
Reactions to the arrest have been mixed across political lines. Supporters of Obi and allied parties have welcomed the development as a necessary step toward accountability, insisting that it must be followed by transparent legal proceedings and broader efforts to secure political gatherings nationwide. Civil rights groups have also emphasised the importance of due process, urging that any investigation distinguish between individual actions and more systemic threats to democratic participation.
Meanwhile, the assault in Benin City continues to draw national attention, with calls from some political and civil society organisations for independent probes and federal engagement to prevent similar violence. Analysts warn that escalating political rhetoric and provocative online threats must be addressed proactively if Nigeria’s democratic process is to remain credible and safe for aspirants and voters alike.
Further official updates are anticipated as the DSS concludes its investigations and details of formal charges, evidence and potential co-conspirators emerge in court proceedings.
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