Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested a sixth suspect linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, where more than 40 worshippers were killed and many others injured.
Five other suspects — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Abubakar (47) — had earlier been arrested and are currently facing trial in Abuja over alleged acts of terrorism.
A security source disclosed on Wednesday that the latest suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was apprehended in Iguosa community along Powerline in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State after years of surveillance.
According to the source, Yusuf is believed to be a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province who went into hiding following the Owo church attack.
The source said, “Our operatives had been on Sani Yusuf for years but was arrested at Iguosa community, along Powerline in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State. Yusuf, is a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province.
“He had after the Owo church attack, temporarily slipped into Kano before deciding to relocate to the sleepy community in Edo State. He has confessed to being involved in the planning and execution of the Owo church massacre. ”
Another source revealed that Yusuf allegedly participated in other high-profile attacks beyond the Owo incident, including the July 2022 attack on the Suleja military barracks and several kidnappings in Kaduna State and nearby areas.
“He said he was involved in the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault, which claimed the lives of five soldiers, and several ISWAP kidnap operations.
“Yusuf also disclosed that he served under other ISWAP top commanders like Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024,” the source added.
Security insiders noted that Yusuf’s arrest in Edo State indicates intensified efforts by the DSS to monitor and disrupt suspected terror cells attempting to establish operational bases in southern forests and peri-urban communities.
The Owo church attack, carried out during a Pentecost Sunday service, remains one of the deadliest terror incidents in Southwest Nigeria. Gunmen detonated explosives before opening fire on congregants, killing over 40 people, including women and children.
The attack marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s security landscape, as the Southwest had largely been spared the scale of insurgent violence seen in the Northeast. The incident heightened fears of ISWAP’s expanding operational reach beyond its traditional strongholds.
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