‘How notorious Ansaru terrorist Abdulazeez Obadaki was recaptured in Kogi’

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Abdulazeez Obadaki, a notorious terrorist alleged to be the mastermind of the deadly attacks in Edo and Kogi States has been arrested about three years after he escaped from custody.

Obadaki was recaptured by operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) three years after he escaped during the Kuje prison break in the federal capital territory (FCT), in July 2022.

Obadaki, a high-profile member of the Ansaru terrorist group was recaptured in an intelligence operation conducted in the Lafia Obessa area of Okene LGA, Kogi state.

The suspect, also known as “Bomboy,” reportedly confessed to orchestrating the Kuje Custodial Centre jailbreak after he was transferred from Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022.

Over 800 inmates, including Boko Haram suspects who were held in the facility, escaped when insurgents attacked the prison.

Obadaki also masterminded the attacks on banks in Uromi, Edo state and fatal shooting at Deeper Life College Okene in Kogi state, both in 2022.

The re-arrest came nearly three months after the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced the arrest of two men he identified as leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group.

Ribadu, who disclosed this at a press briefing on security developments at the Office of the National Security Adviser in August, identified those arrested as Abu Baraa, the Amir, and Mahmuda, the deputy Amir.

“The first is Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of ANSARU. He is the coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria.