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.
- +How we arrested man who threatened to kill in Abuja schools – DSS
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.
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.
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.
Agbo was arraigned on March 17 on a two-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/06/2026.
He is being prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
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.
The prosecution identified the affected schools as Premier International School, The Regent Secondary School and Oakland International British School.
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.
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.
He said forensic analysis led to the arrest of the defendant in Otukpo, Benue State, where a mobile phone and SIM card were recovered.
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.
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.
Although the defendant admitted being familiar with the Techno phone, he denied ownership.
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.
He, however, maintained that the defendant admitted being part of those who composed the threatening messages and was arrested with the phone in question.
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.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until May 12 for the continuation of trial.
