DSS Arrests Sixth Suspect in Owo Church Attack

The Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended Sani Yusuf, the sixth suspect linked to the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, where 40 worshippers lost their lives and many others were injured. Yusuf, a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had evaded arrest for nearly four years.

His capture occurred in Iguosa community, Ovia North Local Government Area, Edo State, where he had relocated from Kano. Reports indicate that Yusuf confessed to his role in planning and executing the Owo church massacre and admitted involvement in other terrorist activities, including an attack on a military barrack in Suleja and a kidnapping operation in Kaduna State.

The DSS is currently prosecuting five other suspects: Idri Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idri (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idri (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47). This arrest marks a significant milestone in the DSS's ongoing campaign against terrorism.