An intelligence-led operation involving the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, has killed a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Abdussamad Ohida, in Owo forest, Ondo State….
An intelligence-led operation involving the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, has killed a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Abdussamad Ohida, in Owo forest, Ondo State.
Security sources said Ohida, also known as Anwar, was killed alongside several members of the terrorist group during a surprise assault on their forest hideout at the weekend.
The sources said the operation foiled plans by the ISWAP commander to launch attacks in parts of southern Nigeria during the forthcoming Yuletide and disrupt the 2027 general elections.
Ohida was reportedly the deputy to ISWAP’s Central Nigeria leader, Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, who was arrested by the DSS in 2023.
Following Ikrimah’s arrest, Ohida allegedly assumed leadership of ISWAP operations across parts of North-Central and southern Nigeria, where he played a key role in planning, coordinating and executing terrorist attacks.
According to the sources, intelligence obtained during the interrogation of Abu Uwais enabled the DSS to uncover Ohida’s plans to attack civilians during the festive period.
One of the sources said the intelligence was corroborated by the United Kingdom and other intelligence partners, who supported the operation that led to Ohida’s elimination.
“The plan was to attack civilians during the festive period and ultimately disrupt the 2027 general elections. This intelligence was corroborated by intelligence partners from the United Kingdom, who supported the elimination operation,” the source said.
The source also linked Ohida to several attacks on security formations in the country.
These included the December 31, 2025 invasion of Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, Ondo State, where eight AK-47 rifles were reportedly stolen before the station was destroyed with explosives.
He was also accused of involvement in the July 28, 2022 attack on a military checkpoint along the Suleja-Zuba Road in Niger State, in which soldiers, security personnel and civilians were killed.
Other attacks attributed to him included the July 11, 2022 attack on Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja; the April 23, 2022 attack on Ogaminana Police Station in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, where five police officers were killed; and the February 7, 2022 attack on the Okene Area Command police station.
“The terrorist planned and executed the December 24, 2020 attack on a Naval checkpoint in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of two naval officers, not to mention the several attacks he launched across parts of the country,” the source added.
The source described Ohida’s killing as a major setback to ISWAP’s efforts to establish and expand its operational presence in central and southern Nigeria.
“We may not immediately realise it, but the elimination of Abdussamad Ohida represents a significant disruption to ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria.
“Ohida’s elimination, coming a few months after the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki, is a very big blow to ISWAP’s efforts to expand its operational presence in Nigeria and underscores the growing efficiency of our security services,” the source said.
