Authorities Reveal Details of Apprehending Individual Who Issued Death Threats Against Abuja Educational Institutions – DSS

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An Operative of the Department of State Services on Friday told a Federal High Court in Abuja how the agency trailed and arrested a man accused of sending threat messages to elite schools in the Federal Capital Territory.

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The operative, Michael Jego, told the court that the agency received petitions from three schools in 2024 over text messages threatening to kill students and teachers and destroy property.

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Jego, who testified as the first prosecution witness in the trial of John Jude Agbo, said a Techno Android phone allegedly used to send the messages was recovered from the defendant.

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Agbo was arraigned on March 17 on a two-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/06/2026.

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He is being prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

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According to a case summary filed by the DSS, the defendant allegedly used multiple GSM numbers — 08124412783, 08069781274, 08105715028 and 09139681108 — to send threatening SMS to schools in Abuja.

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The prosecution identified the affected schools as Premier International School, The Regent Secondary School and Oakland International British School.

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The DSS alleged that the defendant, in the messages, threatened to attack the schools and kill students and teachers, claiming it would take less than a minute to carry out the act.

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Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Dr Calistus Eze, the witness said his team began an investigation following a petition from Oakland International British School dated November 28, 2024.

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He said forensic analysis led to the arrest of the defendant in Otukpo, Benue State, where a mobile phone and SIM card were recovered.

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Jego added that the suspect was brought to Abuja and made a statement in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.

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The prosecution tendered the recovered phone, petitions from the schools, a compact disc containing audio-visual recordings of the defendant’s interview, and his extra-judicial statement. The exhibits were admitted without objection from defence counsel, Hamza Dantani.

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Although the defendant admitted being familiar with the Techno phone, he denied ownership.

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Under cross-examination, Jego said the petitions did not mention the defendant’s name and that the phone numbers were supplied by the complainants along with the messages.

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He, however, maintained that the defendant admitted being part of those who composed the threatening messages and was arrested with the phone in question.

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Following the testimony, the prosecution sought an adjournment to enable it to present additional witnesses and exhibits. The request was not opposed by the defence.

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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until May 12 for the continuation of trial.

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