Three years after the killing of four soldiers during a peacekeeping operation in Ashaka Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested two suspects allegedly linked to the deadly ambush.
The suspects, identified as Ufuoma Sunday James and Lawrence Umuakpero Oboguayivwgue, are also accused of involvement in the killing of Chief Okwudili Obi, popularly known as Odumodu, the self-proclaimed traditional ruler of Asemoku Community, during a separate communal crisis in 2023.
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It could be recalled that in February 2023, soldiers deployed to restore calm amid violent clashes between Kwale and Asemoku communities were ambushed by armed assailants in Ashaka Aboh.
The attack resulted in the death of four military personnel, while their service weapons were reportedly taken by the attackers.
According to security sources, the ambush was allegedly led by James, who is believed to have played a central role in orchestrating the attack on the troops.
Further investigations by security agencies later linked the same suspects to the killing of Chief Obi during the escalation of the communal violence in the area that same year.
Sources disclosed that following prolonged intelligence-led investigations, DSS operatives arrested the suspects in January 2026, acting on what was described as “accurate and actionable intelligence.”
“DSS operatives have been investigating the case for over a year. In January this year, they received precise intelligence that led to the successful arrest of the suspects”, the source said.
The suspects, the source added, have confessed to their involvement in the killing of the soldiers and admitted participation in other criminal activities, including gun-running, kidnapping and related violent offences.
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“They have since been arraigned before a State High Court in Kwale, where the presiding judge ordered that they be remanded in a correctional facility pending the commencement of their trial,” the source confirmed.
Another security official described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the DSS’s ongoing efforts to resolve long-standing violent crime cases.
“This development represents a major breakthrough in the DSS investigation of cold cases and demonstrates the agency’s commitment to ensuring justice, regardless of how much time has passed,” the source said.
The official added that the operation highlights the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence gathering and sends a strong message that violent crimes, particularly those directed at security personnel, will not be ignored or forgotten.
“It reassures affected communities that perpetrators will be held accountable and that no violent crime against the state or its agents will go unpunished,” the source noted.
