Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a sixth suspect linked to the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, where more than 40 worshippers were killed and several others injured.
The suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was apprehended in Iguosa community, along Powerline axis in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, after allegedly evading security operatives for nearly four years.
The DSS is currently prosecuting five other suspects — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — over their alleged roles in the deadly attack.
Security sources disclosed that Yusuf, described as a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had been on the watchlist of security agencies since the Owo massacre.
He was said to have initially fled to Kano State before relocating to Edo State in a bid to avoid arrest.
According to the sources, Yusuf has allegedly confessed to participating in the planning and execution of the Owo church attack.
He was also said to have admitted involvement in other terrorist operations attributed to ISWAP, including the July 2022 attack on the Suleja military barracks, the assault on security operatives at Zuma Rock checkpoint which reportedly claimed the lives of five soldiers, as well as multiple kidnap operations in Kaduna State and surrounding areas.
One source further revealed that the suspect disclosed he operated under the command of other top ISWAP leaders, including Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024.
Security officials described the arrest as a major breakthrough in ongoing counterterrorism efforts, noting that it represents significant progress in the pursuit of justice for victims of the Owo church attack and other related incidents.
The DSS has yet to issue an official statement on the development as of press time.
