Breaking: DSS Apprehends ISWAP Commander Responsible For Owo Church Massacre [Photo]

A security source revealed that the suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was apprehended in Iguosa community along the Powerline axis in Ovia North Local Government Area, Edo State, after evading arrest for years.

Yusuf had been a target of security agencies since the June 5, 2022 massacre at the Owo church. He reportedly fled to Kano soon after the attack before moving to Edo State, where he lived undetected in a quiet rural community for nearly four years.

“For almost four years, he remained one of Nigeria’s most wanted fugitives,” the source said, noting that his arrest resulted from sustained intelligence operations by DSS personnel.

The suspect was described as a high-ranking commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with a significant role in planning and executing the Owo church attack.

“He confessed to his involvement in the Owo church attack, the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault that killed five soldiers, and numerous ISWAP kidnapping operations,” the source added.

Yusuf is also alleged to have participated in the July 2022 attack on a military barracks in Suleja, Niger State, as well as multiple kidnappings in Kaduna State and surrounding areas.

The DSS is currently prosecuting five other suspects tied to the Owo church attack: Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), all facing terrorism-related charges.

Another source noted that Yusuf reportedly operated under top ISWAP commanders, including Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024.

Officials say Yusuf’s arrest represents a major breakthrough in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Owo massacre and other related attacks.

“This arrest highlights the DSS’s relentless commitment to combating terrorism in the country,” the source concluded.