Joint Security Operation Foils Planned ISWAP Attacks, Kills Senior Commander In Ondo
Joint Security Operation Foils Planned ISWAP Attacks, Kills Senior Commander In Ondo
A coordinated security operation in Ondo State has disrupted an alleged terrorist plot targeting parts of Southern Nigeria, following the elimination of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Abdussamad Ohida, also known as Anwar.
Ohida was killed alongside several suspected members of the terrorist group during an intelligence-led operation in a forest in Owo, Ondo State, according to security sources. The operation involved troops of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and personnel of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun. The Nigerian Army confirmed that the operation was jointly and intelligently executed.
The development is significant because security sources said the operation was launched after intelligence indicated that Ohida and his network were allegedly preparing attacks against civilians in parts of Southern Nigeria, particularly during the forthcoming festive period.
According to the sources, intelligence obtained following the arrest of former ISWAP Central Nigeria leader Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, helped security agencies uncover Ohida’s alleged operational activities. Ohida reportedly became a key figure in ISWAP operations across parts of the North-Central and Southern regions after Ikrimah’s arrest in 2023.
The intelligence was reportedly strengthened through cooperation with international security partners, including agencies in the United Kingdom, before the operation was carried out. Security sources said the alleged plan went beyond isolated attacks, with the terrorists reportedly seeking to create wider instability and disrupt preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ohida had allegedly been linked to several attacks on security formations in different parts of the country. Security sources connected him to the December 2025 attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, where eight AK-47 rifles were reportedly stolen before the facility was destroyed with explosives. He was also linked to attacks in Niger and Kogi states, as well as the 2022 assault on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
The latest operation therefore represents more than the elimination of another terrorist commander, as it potentially disrupted an operational network attempting to extend ISWAP’s activities beyond its traditional strongholds in the North-East. Security analysts have described the development as a setback for the group’s efforts to establish a sustained presence in Central and Southern Nigeria.
The success also highlights the growing importance of intelligence-led operations and cooperation among the military, intelligence agencies, regional security outfits and international partners in confronting terrorism. With the 2027 election season approaching, security agencies are expected to sustain surveillance and operations against groups seeking to exploit political and social tensions for violent purposes.
