November 15, (THEWILL) — The Department of State Services (DSS) has recorded a major breakthrough in the country’s counterterrorism operations with the recapture of a top Ansaru commander, Abdulazeez Obadaki, the alleged mastermind of the 2012 mass shooting at the Deeper Life Bible Church near Okene, Kogi State.
The Friday morning operation marks a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to dismantle extremist cells operating across the country.
Obadaki, one of Nigeria’s most wanted terror fugitives, is believed to have coordinated the brutal attack that left at least 19 worshippers dead, including the church’s pastor.
The three assailants, armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed the church during an evening service and opened fire on congregants, plunging the community into grief and shock.
Security sources told THEWILL that Obadaki is also suspected of playing a central role in the coordinated attacks on five commercial banks in Uromi, Edo State, in February 2022.
The daylight raids resulted in the deaths of police officers and civilians, as the attackers carted away huge sums of money and left a trail of fear across the city.
Although Obadaki was earlier arrested in 2022, he escaped during the July 2022 jailbreak at the Kuje Custodial Centre, which freed hundreds of inmates and exposed lapses in the country’s correctional architecture. Sources revealed that after his transfer from the Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022, he reportedly confessed to helping orchestrate the jailbreak.
For over three years, he evaded security forces, frequently switching hideouts and relying on a network of collaborators.
The DSS, acting on fresh intelligence, eventually tracked him to a hideout in Bomboy, where he was arrested during a carefully coordinated, casualty-free operation.
His rearrest comes just two months after the secret police arraigned five suspects linked to the deadly 2022 attack on the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Security analysts told THEWILL that Obadaki’s capture could offer investigators critical insights into Ansaru’s operational structure, sleeper cells, funding routes, and cross-border alliances.
His interrogation is expected to yield valuable intelligence that may lead to further arrests and the disruption of planned attacks.
The DSS is yet to issue a detailed public statement beyond confirming the successful operation. However, senior officials described the arrest as “a major victory” for national security, noting that intelligence-driven operations have been intensified nationwide to intercept terror groups, bandit networks, and organised criminal syndicates before they strike.
Residents of communities that had suffered from Obadaki’s alleged activities welcomed the news with relief, describing the recapture as “long overdue.”
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