DSS APPLAUDED FOR SPEEDY TRIAL OF SUSPECTED DEEPER LIFE CHURCH ATTACKERS

Hope has been rekindled in Otite, near Okene in Kogi State, as the long-stalled trial over the 2012 Deeper Life Bible Church massacre gains fresh momentum. Victims’ families, survivors, and community members have commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the re-arrest and swift arraignment of Abdulmalik Abdulazeez Obadaki, the alleged Ansaru terror kingpin linked to the deadly attack.

In a letter addressed to the DSS, the affected community expressed renewed confidence in the justice process following Obadaki’s arraignment before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, shortly after his re-capture. The development is widely regarded as a turning point in a case that has lingered for more than a decade, restoring faith in the judicial system among those directly impacted by the tragedy.

It will be recalled that the August 7, 2012 attack claimed the lives of at least 19 worshippers and left several others injured when gunmen invaded a Bible study session at the church. Obadaki was subsequently linked to other violent crimes, including deadly bank raids. However, his escape during the 2022 Kuje prison jailbreak deepened the anguish of victims’ families and heightened fears that justice might never be served.

Those fears began to fade in November 2025 with his re-arrest and the filing of six terrorism-related charges. Although he pleaded guilty only to escaping lawful custody, the court ordered his continued detention and adjourned the trial to January 26, 2026. As proceedings resume, the people of Otite remain cautiously optimistic that justice—long delayed—may finally be within reach.

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

Church Demolition: Deeper Life Rejects N10m Offer, Demands Land Reallocation.

The church is also requesting the protection of its members while they continue to engage in lawful activities on the disputed property, pending the resolution of the ongoing matter.
Deeper Life Bible Church
The Deeper Life Bible Church has demanded appropriate compensation for the demolition of its building situated at 36 Aina Street, Lawanson, in the Surulere area of Lagos State.

The church is also requesting the protection of its members while they continue to engage in lawful activities on the disputed property, pending the resolution of the ongoing matter.

Speaking to journalists on Friday in Lagos, the church’s spokesperson, Mr Taiwo Kupolati, confirmed that officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, demolished the church structure on May 27.

“Our members are concerned about the legality of the demolition. To ensure fair compensation, the church is calling for an independent and thorough valuation of the affected property,” Kupolati said.

He also disclosed that the church had turned down an earlier offer of N10 million as compensation from the Surulere Local Government. Instead, the church is proposing an alternative arrangement, either appropriate monetary compensation based on market value or the allocation of a new parcel of land within the same vicinity to allow members to continue their religious activities without disruption.

Kupolati added that the church has lodged a formal complaint with the Acting Inspector-General of Police at Zone 2 Headquarters, seeking protection from any form of intimidation or harassment as the legal process unfolds.

“As a peace-loving organisation, we are pursuing legal avenues to address this issue. While LASBCA is said to have acted independently, there are indications that the local government had previously expressed interest in the land,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, clarified that the state government was not involved in the demolition exercise and maintains a cordial relationship with the church.