A joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Western Nigeria Security Network, known as Amotekun, has reportedly killed a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander in Ondo State.
Security sources said Abdussamad Ohida, also known as Anwar, was killed alongside other suspected members of the group during an intelligence-led operation in a forest in Owo at the weekend.
According to the sources, Ohida was allegedly involved in ISWAP activities across parts of North-Central and southern Nigeria. He reportedly became a key figure in the group’s operations after his former superior, Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, was arrested by the DSS in 2023.
Security sources further claimed that intelligence obtained during the interrogation of Abu Uwais helped authorities uncover plans allegedly linked to Ohida. The sources said the suspected plan included attacks on civilians during the festive period and attempts to disrupt the 2027 general elections.
They also said intelligence from international partners, including the United Kingdom, helped support the operation. These claims have been attributed to security sources and have not been independently detailed by the authorities in a public statement.
Ohida has also been linked by security sources to several previous attacks in Nigeria. These include the December 2025 attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, where attackers reportedly stole firearms before destroying the facility, as well as attacks on security installations in Kogi and Niger states.
The reports said the Owo operation was carried out as part of efforts to prevent further attacks and disrupt the activities of ISWAP in the region. Several other suspected members of the group were reportedly killed during the operation.
Security sources described Ohida’s reported death as a setback for ISWAP’s efforts to establish or expand its operational network in central and southern Nigeria.
The development comes amid continuing security concerns over the spread of terrorist activity beyond Nigeria’s traditional conflict areas in the northeast. In October 2025, the DSS had also warned of an alleged ISWAP plot targeting communities in Ondo and Kogi states, including Owo.
Further official details about the latest operation, including the identities of other casualties and recovered weapons or equipment, are expected to clarify the full extent of the security operation.