Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) linked to the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was arrested in Iguosa community, along Powerline, in Ovia North East LGA of Edo State and is the sixth person arrested in connection to the attack where over 40 worshippers were killed and multiple injured.
The DSS has arrested five other suspects: Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Abubakar (47), who are currently on trial in Abuja for acts of terrorism.
According to a source, Yusuf had temporarily relocated to Kano State after the Owo church attack before moving to the community in Edo State, where he was captured.
The source also claimed Yusuf had confessed to planning and executing the Owo church massacre and also confessed to other attacks, such as the July 2022 attack on Suleja military barracks, the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault, and kidnappings in Kaduna state and its environs.
Yusuf also claimed he served under other top commanders of ISWAP, such as Abu Ikirimah, who was also arrested by the DSS in 2024.
Analysts suggest that this recent arrest reiterates the commitment of the DSS to arrest dangerous criminals to ensure justice is served.