In a significant security breakthrough, the Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully recaptured a high-profile wanted terrorist, Abdulazeez Obadaki, who had been on the run since the infamous Kuje prison break in 2022.
The Dramatic Escape and Manhunt
Abdulazeez Obadaki was one of the 879 inmates who managed to flee the Kuje Custodial Centre located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This mass escape occurred after the facility came under a deadly and well-coordinated external assault by terrorist groups linked to the Islamic State. The brazen attack sent shockwaves across the nation, exposing vulnerabilities in the country's correctional system and launching a massive manhunt for the escaped detainees.
Alleged Crimes and Terror Links
Obadaki is not just any escapee; he is a suspected key figure in the Ansaru terrorist group. Security sources allege that he was the mastermind behind several violent crimes, including the attacks on banks in Uromi, Edo State. Furthermore, he is implicated in the fatal shooting incident at Deeper Life College in Okene, Kogi State, events that had previously terrorized local communities.
A Silent Operation and Broader Security Context
A source within the secret police confirmed the successful operation to secure Obadaki's rearrest. However, the source declined to provide further operational details, citing the sensitive nature of the DSS's work. This re-arrest marks a critical victory for Nigerian security forces. It comes nearly three months after the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced the arrest of two other individuals identified as leaders of the same Ansaru terrorist group, indicating a sustained and targeted effort to dismantle the organization's leadership.
