A joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and Amotekun has killed senior ISWAP leader Abdussamad Ohida in Owo forest, Ondo State, according to security sources.
Ohida, also known as Anwar, was reportedly killed alongside several other members of the terrorist group during an intelligence-led operation at the weekend. Security sources said the operation was carried out before Ohida could execute plans for attacks in southern Nigeria.
Why the Owo Operation Matters
The significance of the ISWAP leader killed in Ondo State goes beyond the death of one commander. Security sources say Ohida had become an important figure in ISWAP’s activities across parts of North-Central and southern Nigeria.
He reportedly took over a leadership role after his former superior, Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, was arrested by the DSS in 2023. According to the security sources, Ohida subsequently became involved in planning and coordinating terrorist operations across several states.
His reported presence in Owo forest also highlights the concern over terrorist networks establishing or maintaining operational bases outside Nigeria’s traditional northeast conflict zone.
Security Forces Say Planned Attacks Were Foiled
The operation came after intelligence reportedly obtained through the interrogation of Abu Uwais pointed to plans to attack civilians during the coming festive period.
Security sources further alleged that Ohida’s network was planning attacks that could disrupt the 2027 general elections. They said intelligence from the United Kingdom also helped corroborate the threat assessment behind the operation.
If the intelligence is accurate, the operation may have prevented attacks before the network reached the execution stage. That makes the intelligence component just as significant as the military raid itself.
Ohida Was Linked to Several Previous Attacks
Security sources also linked Ohida to a series of attacks in different parts of Nigeria. These include the December 31, 2025 attack on Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, the July 2022 attack on the Suleja-Zuba Road military checkpoint, the Kuje Correctional Centre attack in Abuja, and attacks on police facilities in Kogi State. The allegations have been attributed to security sources and should be treated as such.
The reported killing therefore represents a potential disruption to an ISWAP network that security agencies say had been operating beyond its traditional strongholds.
What Happens Next?
The bigger test for Nigerian security agencies will be whether the operation disrupts the wider network rather than only removing one senior commander.
Security forces will need to determine who takes over the network, whether other members remain active in the Owo area and whether the planned attacks have been completely disrupted.
For residents in Ondo and other southern states, the operation could provide some relief, but it also underlines why intelligence gathering and cooperation between federal and regional security agencies remain important.
The reported killing of Abdussamad Ohida in Owo forest is therefore not only a counter-terrorism operation. It is also a sign that the fight against ISWAP is increasingly extending beyond the areas where Nigerians have traditionally associated the group with violence.
