The Department of State Services (DSS) has explained how it tracked down and arrested a man accused of issuing deadly threats to students and staff of several top schools in Abuja.
While testifying before a Federal High Court in Abuja, DSS operative Michael Jego stated that the agency launched an investigation after receiving complaints from three schools in 2024 over alarming text messages sent from multiple phone numbers. The messages allegedly contained threats to attack the schools, kill students and teachers, and destroy property.
Jego, appearing as the first prosecution witness in the trial of John Jude Agbo, told the court that the suspect was traced to Otukpo in Benue State using advanced tracking technology. He was subsequently arrested, and a Techno Android phone along with a SIM card was recovered from him.
According to the witness, Agbo later gave a statement in Abuja in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria. Investigators also presented several pieces of evidence in court, including the recovered phone, petitions from the affected schools, and a compact disc containing audio and video recordings of the suspect’s interview.
The prosecution alleged that Agbo used multiple phone numbers to send threatening messages to Premier International School, The Regent Secondary School, and Oakland International British School, warning that an attack could be carried out within minutes.
Although Agbo admitted familiarity with the recovered phone, he denied owning it. During cross-examination, the DSS operative noted that while the phone numbers were provided by the schools, the suspect admitted being involved in composing the threatening messages.
Following the session, the court admitted all submitted evidence without objection from the defence. The trial judge adjourned proceedings to May 12 to allow the prosecution present additional witnesses and exhibits.
