DSS arrests, arraigns two over killing of four soldiers in Delta

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested and arraigned two suspects in connection with the 2023 killing of four soldiers in Ashaka Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Security sources said the suspects, identified as Ufuoma Sunday James and Lawrence Umuakpero Oboguayivwgue, were apprehended following fresh intelligence that linked them to the attack on the military personnel.

The duo was also reportedly implicated in the killing of Chief Okwudili Obi, popularly known as Odumodu, the self-proclaimed traditional ruler of Asemoku Community, during a communal crisis in the area the same year.

The incident dates back to February 2023 when soldiers deployed on a peacekeeping mission amid clashes between the Kwale and Asemoku communities were ambushed by armed hoodlums. Four soldiers were killed in the attack, and their weapons were reportedly stolen.

According to sources, DSS operatives had been investigating the case for over a year before receiving actionable intelligence in January 2026 that led to the suspects’ arrest.

The suspects are said to have confessed to their roles in the killings and admitted involvement in other crimes, including illegal arms trafficking, kidnapping and violent activities.

They have since been arraigned before a State High Court in Kwale, where the court ordered their remand in a correctional facility pending trial.

Security officials described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the agency’s efforts to resolve long-standing cases, stressing that the development demonstrates the commitment of authorities to ensuring accountability for crimes against security personnel and communities.