Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) successfully apprehended an individual in Abuja who is alleged to have sent threatening messages to several elite schools in the city. The court was informed on Friday that these communications contained explicit threats to kill students and teachers, as well as damage school property.
According to Michael Jego, a DSS operative and the first prosecution witness, the agency received multiple petitions from three Abuja schools during 2024. These schools reported receiving disturbing text messages from specific phone numbers, warning of violence against their students and staff.
Jego testified on April 17, 2026, at the Federal High Court, where he detailed the apprehension of the suspect, identified as John Jude Agbo. A Techno Android phone, believed to be the device used for sending the threatening messages, was recovered from Agbo during his arrest.
Agbo was initially arraigned on March 17, facing a two-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/06/2026. The DSS is prosecuting him under the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act of 2024.
A case summary presented by the DSS indicated that the defendant is accused of utilizing several GSM numbers, including 08124412783, 08069781274, 08105715028, and 09139681108, to transmit SMS messages to schools located in Abuja.
The affected institutions named by the secret police include Premier International School, The Regent Secondary School, and Oakland International British School. The alleged messages warned of imminent attacks and vowed swift execution of the threats.
The DSS asserts that Agbo's alleged actions constitute offences punishable under Section 24 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 18 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Led in evidence by the prosecution lawyer, Dr. Calistus Eze, Jego explained that his team initiated an investigation following a petition lodged by Oakland International School on November 28, 2024.
Jego testified that through forensic analysis and further investigation, his team was able to track down and arrest the defendant in Otukpo, Benue State. A mobile phone and a SIM card were reportedly seized from him.
Upon being brought to Abuja, Agbo was interviewed. The witness stated that the defendant voluntarily provided a statement in the presence of a legal representative from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACN).
The prosecution presented several items as evidence in court, including the recovered Techno Android phone, copies of the petitions from the schools, a compact disc containing audio-visual recordings of Agbo's interview, and his extra-judicial statement.
Defence counsel, Hamza Dantani, did not raise any objections, and Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted all the tendered documents and exhibits into evidence.
During the proceedings, Agbo acknowledged familiarity with the Techno Android phone but denied being its owner.
In his cross-examination, Jego confirmed that the initial petitions from the schools did not explicitly name the defendant. However, he stated that the phone numbers used for the SMS messages were provided by the petitioners, who also supplied copies of the texts.
Jego clarified that he could not confirm if the phone numbers belonged to the defendant but asserted that Agbo had admitted to participating in the composition of the threatening text messages.
The witness reiterated that Agbo was arrested in possession of the mobile phone and confessed to being involved in sending the messages.
Following the cross-examination, the prosecution requested an adjournment to facilitate the presentation of additional witnesses and exhibits, a request not opposed by the defence.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the trial to May 12 for its continuation.
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