The Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), and Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) conducted a joint operation in Owo, Ondo State, killing Abdussamad Ohida, also known as Anwar, a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The operation was intelligence-led and targeted Ohida's forest hideout. Security sources revealed that Ohida was planning attacks on civilians in southern Nigeria during the Yuletide and aimed to disrupt the 2027 general elections.
According to security sources, Ohida had become a key ISWAP commander in the North-Central and southern regions after the arrest of his superior, Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, by the DSS in 2023. Intelligence obtained during Ikrimah's interrogation helped track Ohida and uncover his plans to expand terrorist operations into southern Nigeria. The intelligence indicated that Ohida was preparing to attack civilians during the festive period, with the objective of spreading fear and destabilizing communities.
Ohida was accused of masterminding or coordinating several attacks on police, military, and correctional facilities in Ondo, Niger, Kogi, and Abuja. These included the Kuje Correctional Centre attack and the seizure of weapons from the Ipele Police Station. He was also linked to the December 31, 2025 attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, where eight AK-47 rifles were seized, and the facility was destroyed using explosives.
The operation in Owo followed sustained intelligence gathering on Ohida's activities and his efforts to establish an operational foothold in southern Nigeria. Security agencies reportedly moved against the cell after intelligence indicated that Ohida was preparing for fresh operations. The involvement of Amotekun was significant, given its knowledge of local terrain and operational presence across the South-West.
The killing of Ohida is expected to disrupt ISWAP's command structure and its efforts to extend terrorist operations from the North-East and North-Central into southern Nigeria. A security source described the development as a major setback for the group's expansion strategy, particularly coming months after the reported killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki.
ISWAP, one of the major terrorist organizations operating in the Lake Chad Basin, has been attempting to expand its operations into southern Nigeria. The group has been responsible for several attacks on security formations and civilians in the North-East and North-Central regions. The elimination of Ohida represents a significant disruption to ISWAP's leadership structure, operational network, and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria.
Key points
- The operation was a collaborative effort between the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Amotekun, highlighting the importance of interagency cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.
