OPERATIVES of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a sixth suspect allegedly connected to the deadly 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, marking a significant breakthrough in the long-running investigation into one of Nigeria’s most horrific terror incidents in recent years.
News Point Nigeria reports that the attack, which occurred in June 2022 in Owo, Ondo State, claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left dozens injured, sending shockwaves across the country and drawing widespread condemnation.
Security sources confirmed that the suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was apprehended in the Iguosa community along Powerline in Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, where he had allegedly been hiding for nearly four years.
Described as a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Yusuf had reportedly evaded capture since the Owo church massacre, making him one of Nigeria’s most wanted terror suspects.
According to intelligence sources, Yusuf initially fled to Kano shortly after the attack before quietly relocating to the rural Edo community, where he allegedly blended in while security operatives intensified their nationwide manhunt.
Sources disclosed that Yusuf has since confessed to his involvement in the planning and execution of the Owo church attack.
Beyond the massacre, he is also alleged to have admitted participation in other major terror operations attributed to ISWAP, including the July 2022 attack on a military barracks in Suleja and multiple kidnapping operations across Kaduna State and surrounding areas.
“He admitted his role in the Owo church attack, the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault, which claimed the lives of five soldiers, and several ISWAP kidnap operations,” a security source revealed.
The Zuma Rock checkpoint attack occurred near Suleja, Niger State, and resulted in the deaths of five soldiers, further intensifying concerns over the reach and coordination of extremist cells operating within the country.
Another source added that Yusuf disclosed he had operated under senior ISWAP commanders, including Abu Ikirimah, who was reportedly arrested by the DSS in 2024.
The newly arrested suspect is expected to join five other individuals currently being prosecuted by the DSS for alleged terrorism offences related to the Owo church attack. Those already arraigned include Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).
The DSS has maintained that it remains committed to ensuring justice for the victims of the Owo massacre and other terror-related incidents linked to the suspects.
Security officials described the arrest as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing counterterrorism campaign, noting that the capture of a fugitive allegedly linked to multiple high-profile attacks underscores the persistence of intelligence operations across the country.
“This arrest marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Owo church attack and the soldiers killed at Zuma Rock checkpoint in Suleja,” a source stated. “It also underscores the relentless campaign by the DSS in the fight against terrorism.”