JOINT ARMY, DSS, AMOTEKUN OPERATION ELIMINATES ANOTHER ISWAP LEADER
Security forces have eliminated a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), identified as Abdussamad Ohida, also known as Anwar, during an intelligence-led counter-terrorism operation in Owo Forest, Ondo State.
The operation was jointly carried out by troops of the Nigerian Army, personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), and Amotekun operatives. Ohida was killed alongside several other members of the terrorist group following intelligence on their activities and plans in the region.
According to intelligence reports, Ohida was allegedly planning attacks targeting civilians during the forthcoming Yuletide period, with the broader objective of creating insecurity and disrupting preparations for the 2027 general elections. The intelligence was reportedly corroborated by security partners in the United Kingdom, prompting the coordinated operation against the group’s hideout in the forest.
Ohida was said to have assumed a leadership role in ISWAP operations across parts of the North-Central and Southern regions following the arrest of his former superior, Abu Uwais, in 2023. Security sources linked him to several major terrorist attacks and operations carried out in different parts of the country.
Among the incidents allegedly associated with him was the December 2025 attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, as well as the July 2022 attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. He was also reportedly connected to attacks targeting police and military formations in Kogi and Niger States.
The killing of Ohida comes months after the reported elimination of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki and is being viewed by security authorities as a significant setback for ISWAP’s leadership structure and operational capabilities.
Security analysts say his elimination could weaken the group’s ability to coordinate attacks, recruit members and expand its activities into Central and Southern Nigeria. The operation also highlights the increasing reliance on intelligence sharing and collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies and international partners in tackling terrorism
The latest development underscores the importance of sustained intelligence-led operations, inter-agency cooperation and community-based security efforts in preventing terrorist groups from establishing stronger footholds in previously less affected parts of the country.
