RismadarVoice Reporters, February 25, 2026
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a sixth suspect linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, where over 40 worshippers were killed and many others injured.
Security sources disclosed on Wednesday that the 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.
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 standing trial in Abuja for alleged acts of terrorism.
According to a source, Yusuf is believed to be a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
He reportedly fled to Kano shortly after the Owo attack before relocating to the Edo community where he was eventually tracked and arrested.
“Our operatives had been on Sani Yusuf for years before he was arrested in Edo State. He has confessed to involvement in the planning and execution of the Owo church attack,” the source said.
Another security source alleged that beyond the Owo incident, Yusuf was linked to other violent operations, including the July 2022 attack on a military barracks in Suleja and kidnappings in parts of Kaduna State.
He was also said to have participated in the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault that reportedly claimed the lives of five soldiers.
The suspect allegedly disclosed that he operated under other ISWAP commanders, including Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested in 2024.
Security analysts say Yusuf’s arrest in Edo State highlights efforts by security agencies to track suspected extremist cells reportedly attempting to expand operations into southern and peri-urban areas.
The Owo church attack remains one of the deadliest incidents in Southwest Nigeria.
The assault, carried out during a Pentecost Sunday service, heightened concerns over the potential spread of insurgent activities beyond the Northeast, where such groups have traditionally operated.
The DSS has yet to issue an official statement on the latest arrest as of the time of filing this report.
