- Safiu Kehinde
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the sixth suspected involved in the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo state, which claimed lives of 40 worshippers with several others injured.
The DSS had according to sources, been on the trail of the sixth suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf.
He was reportedly arrested in Iguosa community, along Powerline in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to the source, Yusuf, a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had after the Owo church attack, temporarily slipped into Kano before deciding to relocate to the sleepy community in Edo State.
Following his arrest, the DSS interrogated the suspect who confessed being involved in the planning and execution of the Owo church massacre.
Yusuf also admitted being involved in other terrorist attacks by ISWAP, including the July 2022 Suleja military barracks attack, and kidnappings in Kaduna State and environs.
“He admitted his role in the Owo church attack, the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault, which claimed the lives of five soldiers, and several ISWAP kidnap operations,
“Yusuf also disclosed that he served under other ISWAP top commanders like Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024,” another source offered.
“This arrest marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Owo church attack, the soldiers killed at Zuma Rock checkpoint in Suleja, and underscores the relentless campaign by the DSS in the fight against terrorism,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the DSS is currently prosecuting the five initially arrested Owo church attack suspects — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).