Security Forces Kill Senior ISWAP Leader in Ondo

A senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province has been killed in an intelligence-led operation in Ondo State, with security sources saying he was planning attacks on civilians during the Yuletide and to disrupt the 2027 general elections.

Abdussamad Ohida, also known as Anwar, was eliminated in Owo forest over the weekend by a combined team of Nigerian Army troops, Department of State Services personnel and Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun.

Sources said Ohida was killed alongside many members of the terrorist organisation during a surprise attack on their forest hideout.

According to the sources, Ohida previously served as deputy to ISWAP Central Nigeria leader Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, who was arrested by the DSS in 2023.

Following Ikrimah’s arrest, Ohida assumed leadership of ISWAP activities across parts of North Central and southern Nigeria, where he played a key role in planning, coordinating and executing terrorist operations.

Through the interrogation of Abu Uwais, the DSS gathered credible intelligence on Ohida’s plans to attack civilians during the forthcoming Yuletide, one source said.

“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 sources said Ohida planned and executed several high-profile attacks, including:

• The December 31, 2025 invasion of Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, Ondo State, during which AK-47 rifles were carted away, and the station brought down with explosives

• The July 28, 2022 attack on a military checkpoint along the Suleja–Zuba Road in Niger State, in which several soldiers, officers and civilians were killed

• 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, which resulted in the death of five police officers

• The February 7, 2022 attack on Okene Area Command police station

• The December 24, 2020 attack on a Naval checkpoint in Okene, Kogi State, which killed two naval officers

“The terrorist planned and executed the 24th December, 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 noted.

The sources said Ohida’s elimination represented a significant blow to ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria.

The operation follows the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, an ISWAP commander killed in a joint operation involving Nigerian and United States forces in March.

“We may not immediately realize 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,” he declared.