ABUJA, Nigeria – In a significant blow to one of Nigeria’s most elusive terror networks, the Department of State Services (DSS) announced the recapture of Abdulazeez Obadaki, a top Ansaru commander accused of masterminding the 2012 massacre of 19 Christian worshippers at a Deeper Life Bible Church near Okene, Kogi State. The Friday morning operation in Okene’s Lafia Obessa area—described by sources as a “well-oiled intelligence effort”—ends over three years of evasion for the fugitive, who escaped during the infamous July 2022 Kuje Custodial Centre jailbreak. 2 3 4 11 12 13 15 17
Obadaki, also known as “Bomboy,” allegedly confessed during interrogation to orchestrating the Kuje breakout shortly after his transfer from Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022, where he had been held for prior offenses. 11 12 15 17 20 The daring assault freed over 800 inmates, including high-value Boko Haram and Ansaru operatives, in one of Nigeria’s most humiliating security breaches. 13 14 19 21
A Trail of Bloodshed: From Church Massacre to Bank Heists
The 2012 Okene attack remains a scar on Nigeria’s interfaith landscape. On August 7, three AK-47-wielding gunmen stormed the Deeper Life service, killing 19—including Pastor Moses Osadolor—in a hail of bullets that injured dozens more. Initially pinned on Boko Haram, intelligence later traced it to Ansaru, an al-Qaeda splinter group focused on “anti-Western” strikes, with Obadaki as the alleged architect. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 The assault, in a restive North-Central hotspot, fueled recruitment for the group, which split from Boko Haram in 2012 over ideological rifts.
Post-escape, Obadaki’s shadow loomed over the February 2022 Uromi bank raids in Edo State. Five commercial branches were hit in broad daylight, leaving eight dead—including two policemen—and 12 injured, with robbers fleeing with hundreds of millions of naira. Security sources link Obadaki’s network to the chaos, which paralyzed the South-South region and exposed vulnerabilities in financial security. 3 8 12 15 17 19
The timing of Obadaki’s arrest—mere weeks after DSS arraigned five suspects in the June 2022 Owo Catholic Church bombing that killed 40—underscores a renewed offensive against Ansaru. 15 16 That attack, claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), highlighted the group’s resurgence in the Southwest.
Confessions and Cracks in the Network
Interrogation revelations paint Obadaki as a linchpin: Beyond the church and banks, he allegedly coordinated the Kuje plot from inside, exploiting his Kabba transfer to relay instructions. 11 12 15 17 20 Security officials say his capture, alongside August’s arrests of Ansaru “emir” Mahmud Usman (Abu Bara’a) and deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri, signals the network’s unraveling—dismantling cells tied to uranium site plots, expatriate kidnappings, and emir abductions. 21
Under new Director-General Tosin Ajayi, appointed in August 2025, DSS has notched a string of wins: Over 150 high-value terrorists nabbed since January, per internal tallies, with accelerated trials via specialized courts. 16 “This is a testament to enhanced intelligence fusion,” a source told Premium Times, crediting tech upgrades and community tips. 11
Reactions: Relief Amid Lingering Fears
On X, the news sparked cautious optimism. “DSS don recapture Abdulaziz Obadaki, Ansaru big boy wey mastermind 2022 Kuje jailbreak—879 inmates comot, but na him plan! Justice go land now,” tweeted @priscanall, echoing viral posts with over 32,000 views. 0 Kogi Governor Usman Ododo hailed it as “a victory for peace,” vowing support for victims’ families. 3 Rights groups like Amnesty International urged swift prosecution, warning against “recidivism risks” in underfunded custodial systems.
Yet, experts caution: Ansaru’s decentralized cells—fueled by Sahel jihadist ties—could regroup. “One arrest doesn’t end the threat,” said North-Central analyst Kabiru Adamu. With 2026 polls nearing, Obadaki’s haul of intel could preempt more strikes, but Nigeria’s terror fight demands sustained investment.
As Obadaki faces arraignment—potentially joining Owo suspects in Abuja’s high-security courts—this recapture isn’t just closure for Okene’s ghosts; it’s a reminder that shadows linger in the North-Central’s folds.
