DSS Tells Court How Operatives Tracked Man Who Threatened to Attack Abuja Schools

How DSS Tracked and Arrested the Suspect

A Department of State Services operative has told a Federal High Court in Abuja how officers tracked down and arrested a man who sent threatening messages to several elite schools in the capital, warning he would kill students and teachers.

Testifying on Friday as the first prosecution witness before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, DSS operative Michael Jego said the agency received formal complaints from three Abuja schools in 2024 about text messages threatening attacks. The schools reported that the sender, identified as John Agbo, had sent multiple messages detailing plans to carry out killings on their premises.

Jego told the court that the DSS used the phone numbers and digital traces from the threatening messages to locate Agbo. The investigation led to his arrest, and he is now facing terrorism-related charges.

The Charges and the Court Process

Agbo’s trial is now underway at the Federal High Court. The DSS presented him as someone who deliberately terrorised educational institutions, which falls under terrorism provisions in Nigerian law. The prosecution is building its case around the threatening messages, the digital trail, and the fear the threats caused within the school communities.

The case has drawn attention because it touches on a deep anxiety in Nigeria right now. School safety has been a persistent concern, from the Chibok and Dapchi abductions to more recent incidents of violence near educational institutions. A threat like this, even if it does not result in an actual attack, causes real disruption and fear among parents, students, and staff.

What Happens Next

The trial is expected to continue with further witness testimony. The DSS has indicated it will present additional evidence to support the prosecution. Agbo’s defence team has not yet outlined its case.

Cases involving threats to schools carry significant weight in the current Nigerian security environment. The outcome of this trial could set a precedent for how seriously the courts treat threats of school violence, even when no physical attack occurs.

Sources: Freedom Online, Uwakwe Benson, The Guardian Nigeria