The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken into custody a “high-profile commander” of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) tied to the 5th of June, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The suspect, named Sani Yusuf, is the sixth person apprehended in connection with the attack, which claimed the lives of over 40 worshippers and left several others injured.
The DSS is currently prosecuting five additional suspects Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
NTA cited a security source saying that Yusuf was arrested in Iguosa community, along Powerline, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
“According to the source, Yusuf, a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had after the Owo church attack, temporarily slipped into Kano before deciding to relocate to the sleepy community in Edo State,” the report reads.
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“The source further disclosed that Yusuf has since confessed to being involved in the planning and execution of the Owo church massacre.
“He confessed to other terrorist attacks by ISWAP, including the July 2022 Suleja military barracks attack, and kidnappings in Kaduna State and environs.”
Yusuf reportedly stated that he served under other top ISWAP commanders, including Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024.
It was earlier reported that a DSS operative informed the Federal High Court in Abuja how digital forensic tools were deployed to track and apprehend suspects linked to the attack.