Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.
Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, the Department of State Services (DSS), has arrested a sixth suspect linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State — a massacre that claimed more than 40 lives and left dozens injured during a Pentecost Sunday service. Security sources confirmed that the suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was apprehended in Iguosa community, along the Powerline axis of Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, after evading capture for nearly four years. Authorities describe Yusuf as a high-ranking commander within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), one of the most active extremist factions operating in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin. Four years on the run according to intelligence sources familiar with the investigation, Yusuf allegedly fled to Kano shortly after the Owo attack before relocating to the rural Edo community, where he reportedly maintained a low profile while security operatives tracked his movements over several years. The DSS had earlier arrested and commenced prosecution of five other suspects — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — for alleged terrorism-related offences connected to the church massacre. Authorities say Yusuf’s arrest represents a critical breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle networks behind one of Nigeria’s deadliest civilian-targeted attacks in recent years. Alleged confessions and broader terror links security officials further disclosed that Yusuf has allegedly confessed to participating in the planning and execution of the Owo church attack. He is also said to have admitted involvement in other violent operations attributed to ISWAP, including: The July 2022 attack on a military formation in Suleja, Niger State. The assault at the Zuma Rock checkpoint, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of five soldiers. Multiple kidnapping operations in Kaduna State and surrounding areas. Sources also indicated that Yusuf allegedly operated under senior ISWAP figures, including Abu Ikirimah, who was reportedly arrested by the DSS in 2024 as part of expanded counterterrorism operations. While the DSS has not yet issued a formal public statement detailing the arrest, security insiders describe the development as a “significant milestone” in Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign and a step toward justice for victims of the Owo massacre and other attacks. National and regional Security implications the Owo church attack marked a rare and deeply symbolic assault on a place of worship in southern Nigeria, intensifying national grief and raising renewed concerns about the geographic spread of extremist violence beyond the country’s North-East insurgency corridor. ISWAP, which emerged from a split within Boko Haram, has expanded its operational footprint in recent years, targeting military facilities, civilian communities, and critical infrastructure. Security analysts note that dismantling high-level command structures remains central to weakening the group’s operational capacity. The arrest of a figure described as a “high-profile commander” may provide investigators with deeper intelligence on recruitment pipelines, logistics routes, and cross-regional coordination within extremist cells. Pursuit of accountability the Owo massacre drew widespread condemnation from national leaders, faith groups, and the international community. Media outlets including BBC News, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Premium Times, and The Guardian Nigeria reported extensively on the attack and subsequent arrests. As prosecutions continue, legal experts emphasize the importance of transparent judicial proceedings to ensure accountability while reinforcing public trust in Nigeria’s security institutions. For families of the victims, however, the arrest — while significant — represents only one phase in a long search for justice. Sources: BBC News; Reuters; Al Jazeera; Premium Times; The Guardian Nigeria.
Afilawos Magana Sur is a journalist from Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, currently based in Bauchi metropolis. He is known for his commitment to accurate, ethical, and responsible journalism, with a focus on reporting issues of public relevance and community development.
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