Nearly four years after the deadly attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo that left the nation in shock and mourning, the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the alleged sixth member of the terror cell behind the massacre
The suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was apprehended in Edo State following years of intelligence-led tracking and surveillance by security operatives.
Sources described Yusuf as a high-ranking commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) who had successfully evaded capture since the June 2022 attack, moving discreetly across states before settling in a rural community where he remained under the radar.
His arrest reportedly followed sustained covert operations aimed at dismantling the network responsible for the horrific church attack that drew both national grief and international condemnation.
The DSS is already prosecuting five individuals—Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47)—for their alleged roles in the Owo church massacre.
Security sources disclosed that Yusuf had initially fled to Kano after the attack before relocating to Edo State. Investigators say he has confessed to participating in the planning and execution of the Owo church attack.
Yusuf reportedly also admitted involvement in other ISWAP operations, including the July 2022 assault on the Suleja military barracks, attacks at the Zuma Rock checkpoint that claimed five soldiers’ lives, and multiple kidnappings in Kaduna State and surrounding areas.
“He admitted his role in the Owo church attack, the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault, and several ISWAP kidnap operations,” a source revealed.
Another source added that Yusuf had served under ISWAP commanders such as Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024.
Officials said the arrest marks a major step toward justice for the victims of the Owo church attack and the soldiers killed at Zuma Rock, highlighting the DSS’s sustained efforts in combating terrorism across Nigeria.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
 has arrested the alleged sixth member of the terror cell behind the massacre.){kind=link}
ISSOKAY