In a major breakthrough for national security, the Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully tracked down and arrested a sixth suspect linked to the horrific 2022 massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was apprehended in a rural community in Edo State after nearly four years of being on the run.
Yusuf is described as a high-ranking commander within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Despite the intense national and global outcry that followed the church attack, he managed to evade capture by moving through various states. Intelligence sources indicate that he briefly sought refuge in Kano before finally settling into a quiet, under-the-radar life in a sleepy village in Edo State, where he lived for years.
The arrest is the result of a long-term, intelligence-led manhunt aimed at dismantling the specific terror cell responsible for the Owo tragedy. Security sources confirmed to Reports that Yusuf has already provided a series of confessions during his initial interrogation. Beyond admitting to his direct role in planning and executing the Owo church invasion, he also claimed responsibility for the July 2022 attack on the military barracks in Suleja and several high-profile kidnappings across Kaduna State.
His confession also shed light on other deadly operations, including the assault on the Zuma Rock checkpoint that resulted in the deaths of five soldiers. Yusuf reportedly served under other notorious ISWAP figures, such as Abu Ikirimah, who was previously taken into custody by the DSS in 2024. This latest capture is being hailed by security experts as a significant milestone in providing justice for the victims and their grieving families.
While Yusuf prepares to face the law, the DSS is already moving forward with the prosecution of five other suspects: Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar. This sixth arrest reinforces the commitment of security agencies to ensure that every individual involved in the dark events of June 2022 is held accountable.
The successful operation underscores a relentless campaign against insurgency, proving that even years later, the reach of justice remains long. As the investigation continues, more details are expected to emerge regarding the internal workings of the cell and its wider connections to regional terror networks.
