A senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Abdussamad Ohida, has been killed during a joint security operation in Owo forest, Ondo State.
Ohida, also known as Anwar, was killed alongside several ISWAP members during an operation involving the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, at the weekend. Security sources said the operation followed intelligence on planned attacks in parts of southern Nigeria.
The sources said Ohida had been the deputy to ISWAP’s Central Nigeria leader, Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, who was arrested by the DSS in 2023.
Following Ikrimah’s arrest, Ohida was reportedly placed in charge of ISWAP activities across parts of the North-Central and southern regions, where he allegedly coordinated and participated in attacks.
According to the security sources, intelligence gathered during the interrogation of Abu Uwais helped uncover plans to target civilians during the festive period and interfere with the 2027 general elections.
The intelligence was also reportedly corroborated by the United Kingdom and other intelligence partners, who supported the operation against the group.
“The plan was to attack civilians during the festive period and ultimately disrupt the 2027 general elections. This intelligence was corroborated by intelligence partners from the United Kingdom, who supported the elimination operation,” the source said.
Ohida was also linked by the sources to attacks on security formations, including the December 31, 2025 invasion of Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, where eight AK-47 rifles were reportedly taken before the facility was destroyed with explosives.
The sources further attributed several attacks to him, including the July 28, 2022 assault on a military checkpoint along the Suleja-Zuba Road in Niger State, the July 11, 2022 attack on Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, and attacks on police facilities in Kogi State.
These included the April 23, 2022 attack on Ogaminana Police Station in Adavi Local Government Area, where five police officers were killed, and the February 7, 2022 attack on the Okene Area Command police station.
“The terrorist planned and executed the December 24, 2020 attack on a Naval checkpoint in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of two naval officers, not to mention the several attacks he launched across parts of the country,” the source added.
The source described Ohida’s death as a disruption to ISWAP’s leadership and efforts to establish an operational presence in central and southern Nigeria.
“We may not immediately realise it, but the elimination of Abdussamad Ohida represents a significant disruption to ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria.
“Ohida’s elimination, coming a few months after the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki, is a very big blow to ISWAP’s efforts to expand its operational presence in Nigeria and underscores the growing efficiency of our security services,” the source said.
Ademide Adebayo
Follow us on:
