₦airaland Forum

[i]DSS Arraigns Suspected Mastermind of 2012 Deeper Life Church Massacre in Kogi

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned Abdulmalik Abdulazeez Obadaki, the suspected mastermind of the 2012 deadly gun attack on the Deeper Life Bible Church, Otite, near Okene in Kogi State.

The brutal attack, carried out on August 7, 2012, left more than 19 worshippers dead and several others injured after armed men stormed the church during a Bible study session and opened fire with AK-47 rifles. The incident was widely believed to have been coordinated by the Ansaru terrorist group.

Following the church massacre, Obadaki was also linked to the violent Uromi bank robberies in Edo State, where armed gang members reportedly killed several persons and carted away large sums of money.

He was subsequently arrested by security forces and detained at the Kuje Correctional Centre, but escaped during the July 2022 prison jailbreak.

The DSS, however, announced on November 15, 2025, that it had successfully recaptured the fugitive.

DSS Arraigns Obadaki on Terrorism Charges

Six days after his recapture, the secret police arraigned Obadaki before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on:

Terrorism
Conspiracy
Aiding terror attacks
Concealment of information
Participation in criminal activities
Escape from lawful custody

During his court appearance, Obadaki pleaded guilty only to the sixth count relating to escape from lawful custody, while denying involvement in the other terrorism-related allegations.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to January 26, 2026, ordering that the defendant remain in DSS custody pending the next court sitting.

Context and Security Perspective | Nigeria News Today

The Bureau News notes that the Okene church massacre remains one of the most painful religious attacks recorded in Nigeria. Security analysts say the trial will be closely monitored as Nigerians demand justice for victims and sustained accountability for terrorism crimes.

Source: https://thebureaunews.com/dss-arraigns-suspected-terrorist-who-killed-worshippers-in-kogi/

Death sentence or life imprisonment in the minimum.

FG should extend the crackdown on the sympathizers of the terrorists as well. They are not different in reasoning

Why a court hearing? Just sentence him to the maximum punishment

I watched the video of the kids, teenagers, adults and old whom were kidnapped from ECWA church kabba bunu during service. It's disheartening

2012

Una normal so?
Wetin person won do wen 2012 criminal?

Muslims killing Christians yet they say no Christian persecution in Nigeria

ayusco85:
Why a court hearing? Just sentence him to the maximum punishment

My brother I’m surprised too ooo. Instead of outright capital punishment!

person wey FG abi na ONSA go soon identify as their bona fide employee.
mad people wey dey use security of lives and property dey play suwe....

No news of the attackers caught then, where did they generate this one from?

Arraigne ke.... Them dey arraigne terrorist...
I though na kpia them dey kpia terrorist or this one no want his 72 virgin now.

It's well o. Kudos to the DSS

20 yrs imprisonment announcement loading......
To be freed later from the back door

The Way The Justice System Treats Terrorists As Celebrities In Nigeria Is A SHOW OF SHAME.

What Case Are You Adjourning Again On A Matter Like This ?


Nonsense!


We Need A Total Overhaul Of Our LAW SYSTEM In Nigeria.

Editorialtimes:
[i]DSS Arraigns Suspected Mastermind of 2012 Deeper Life Church Massacre in Kogi


Source: https://thebureaunews.com/dss-arraigns-suspected-terrorist-who-killed-worshippers-in-kogi/

this kind of person is not supposed to be taking to court.

ayusco85:
Why a court hearing? Just sentence him to the maximum punishment

How else will they show uncle Donald that they are WORKING HARD?

dederocs:
Death sentence or life imprisonment in the minimum.

Journey Just Come.
You want them to do all this to their pet?
Welcome to Nigeria.

dederocs:
Death sentence or life imprisonment in the minimum.

Is either dey born you today or you be one of dem.

Them parade terrorist we no see picture.

Justice must be served.

We pray and desire a country that is safe.

The suspect is Abdulmalik Abdulazeez Obadaki, the Judge is Joyce Abdulmalik.

Abdulmalik will deliver judgement on the case of Abdulmalik.

Some names were reported in connection with the 2012 Deeper Life Bible Church shooting, but it’s important to understand the context: early reporting often mixed suspects arrested, people held for questioning, and later allegations about masterminds. ([Wikipedia][1])

🔹 Names Reported Soon After the Attack (2012)

In the immediate aftermath, police announced arrests of a few individuals and named at least one supposed gang leader:

* Yekini Isa – Identified by police as the leader of the group arrested after a gun battle with security agents in Ibillo, Edo State. ([Vanguard News][2])
* Adamu Adeiza – Named alongside Yekini Isa as one of the three people arrested in connection with the incident. ([Daily Post][3])
* Mrs. Sametu Ovavi– Named by police as one of the three suspects, although a human rights group later contested that these individuals were not part of the shooting team (claiming they were victims or unrelated). ([Daily Post][3])

However, many early suspects were reported in the media without formal charges, and some civil rights groups disputed that they were truly involved. ([Daily Post][3])

🔹 Later Developments (Years After)

In 2025, Nigerian authorities revealed the name of a suspected mastermind allegedly linked to the Okene shooting:

* Abdulmalik Abdulazeez Obadaki (also reported as Abdulazeez Obadaki)— Named by the Department of State Services (DSS) as a suspected mastermind and linked to the 2012 Deeper Life Church mass shooting. He was arraigned in court on terrorism and related charges in late 2025. ([Legal Nigeria][4])

Security reports also suggest Obadaki had connections to other violent crimes and was previously arrested and escaped custody during the july 2022 jailbreak at Kuje Custodial Centre. ([Legal Nigeria][4])

📌 Important Clarification

* Early reports named suspects who were allegedly involved and were arrested or detained, but many of these cases did not immediately lead to prosecution at the time. ([Daily Post][3])
The more recent naming of Abdulmalik/Abdulazeez Obadaki is part of a formal legal process much later (2025), tied to terrorism charges relating to the same incident. ([Legal Nigeria][4])

helinues:
FG should extend the crackdown on the sympathizers of the terrorists as well. They are not different in reasoning

You are right, especially those who used it to mock Jonathan and took advantage of it to win election from 2015

Wow. It is getting interesting

DSS will do wahala.,our courts will either give 2 years jail/death penalty which Governors won't signed 🤔🙄😒 pathetic

Say what you want, but the DSS has a very long memory. Recapturing a high-profile terrorist who escaped during the Kuje break shows that the secret police are still the elite of Nigeria’s security architecture. People thought Obadaki had vanished into thin air, but they tracked him down silently. This is the kind of intelligence-led operation we need more of. Kudos to the Service for not letting the souls of those 19 worshippers cry for justice in vain.

Arrest him now ? They knew where his location was I guess I think they are just giving up a few of their people because of trump's genocide accusation.

This one should have been secretly killed by government. No need making it public or arranging him in Court

Justice Joyce Abdumalik to sentence terrorist Abdumalik Obadaki. Aunty Joyce, do you really wanna sentence your relatives hahahaha.
Jokes apart! Why is it that they can parade and show the face of petty criminals but can't show the hardened ones

bunmioguns:
Say what you want, but the DSS has a very long memory. Recapturing a high-profile terrorist who escaped during the Kuje break shows that the secret police are still the elite of Nigeria’s security architecture. People thought Obadaki had vanished into thin air, but they tracked him down silently. This is the kind of intelligence-led operation we need more of. Kudos to the Service for not letting the souls of those 19 worshippers cry for justice in vain.

I really need to see this Obadaki face, why are they hiding it from us

Seems Buhari government was shielding those guys, we never heard of their prosecution while he was in power, religion extremism is evil, Ebira killing his fellow Ebira people to just for the sake of religion

Before I opened the thread I was like "ah, government don dey arrest Fulani?" Only for me to open it and I'm like "no wonder, as far as nor be Fulani"...

osuofia2:
Seems Buhari government was shielding those guys, we never heard of their prosecution while he was in power

so without trump lashing out the vegetable you think he's ready to prosecute terrorists? Agbado boys self🤣🤣 someone that pledge to continue where the other vegetable stops.

Good news.
They should all be killed before January 1st biko.

Animals in human skin.