Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, the Department of State Services, has arrested a 26-year-old man accused of threatening a former presidential candidate and claiming responsibility for a recent attack in Edo state, a security source said Monday.
The suspect, identified as Udeme Stephen, was detained after posting a message on X in which he allegedly claimed involvement in an attack targeting Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
The threat followed a shooting incident in Benin, Edo state, where gunmen fired at a secretariat linked to the African Democratic Congress and at the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun. Obi and other political figures were present in the area at the time, though no casualties were reported.
In the post, Stephen warned that Obi survived the Benin attack by chance and threatened further violence during a planned visit to Rivers state.
A senior security source said the DSS launched a covert investigation immediately after the message was published, using forensic analysis to trace and arrest the suspect.
Stephen, who is described as a teacher at a secondary school in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state, is currently in custody and is expected to be charged in court.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed further details about the investigation.
The incident highlights ongoing security concerns around political figures in Nigeria, particularly following violent attacks linked to political and criminal groups.
