Man issues fresh assassination threat against Obi, RULAAC calls for immediate police, DSS probe
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has demanded an immediate investigation into a fresh assassination threat issued against former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi on X (formerly Twitter) by a user identified as Engineer Tom Steve (@Stevetom788).
The post, dated February 24, gloated over a recent alleged assassination attempt on Obi in Edo State and issued a new explicit warning: if the former Anambra State governor visits Rivers State, the account holder’s “men” would not miss their target.
The controversial post read: “Thank his stars he survived this one… I learnt he’s going to my Rivers State… Na my men go handle that one and dem no dey miss target… Speak no peace to a bastard and wish him no long life, for he’s destined to die one.”
In a statement signed by RULAAC Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma, the group highlighted that the post’s reference to Obi having “survived this one,” combined with forward-looking threats for Rivers State, raises grave concerns about possible endorsement of political violence, incitement, or coordination.
“Threats to life are not protected political speech,” the statement said. “Incitement to violence is a criminal offence under Nigerian law. Online assassination rhetoric can embolden real-world attackers.”
RULAAC stressed that Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive when political figures face death threats for exercising their constitutional rights to movement, association, and participation.
The group called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to urgently investigate he authenticity and ownership of the @Stevetom788 account; any potential links between the account holder and the Edo incident and the credibility of the threat regarding Rivers State.
RULAAC also urged political leaders across party lines to unequivocally condemn such rhetoric and refrain from inflammatory language that could incite supporters.
“Democracy is not war,” Nwanguma stated. “Words that portray opponents as people ‘destined to die’ are not mere insults—they are invitations to violence. Failure to act swiftly will signal tolerance for political terror.”
