The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested and arraigned two individuals linked to the killing of four soldiers in Ashaka Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State.
The suspects, Ufuoma James and Lawrence Oboguayivwgue, are also alleged to have been involved in the 2023 beheading of Chief Okwudili Obi (Odumodu), the self-proclaimed traditional ruler of Asemoku Community, amid a communal crisis.
The four soldiers were reportedly killed in February 2023 while on a peacekeeping mission following violent clashes between the Kwale and Asemoku communities.
During the operation, the military team was ambushed, allegedly by a group led by James, resulting in the deaths of the soldiers and the theft of their service weapons.
According to security sources, the DSS, acting on actionable intelligence, apprehended the suspects in January 2026, after an investigation lasting over a year.
The suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in the killings and admitted participation in gun-running and other violent criminal activities.
“DSS operatives have been investigating the case for more than a year,” a source said. “In January this year, reliable intelligence led to the arrest of the suspects.”
The suspects were arraigned before a state High Court in Kwale, where the presiding judge ordered their remand in a correctional facility pending trial.
Another security source described the arrests as a significant breakthrough, highlighting the DSS’s commitment to justice and the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence operations.
“This development reassures communities that violent crimes, especially those targeting security personnel, will not go unpunished,” the source added.
