Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Sani Yusuf, the sixth suspect linked to the June 5, 2022 terror attack at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, which left over 40 worshippers dead and scores injured. Yusuf was apprehended in Iguosa community along the Powerline axis in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State after nearly four years on the run.
Yusuf had been one of Nigeria’s most wanted fugitives since the Owo massacre, which drew national and international condemnation. Survivors recounted that gunmen stormed the church during Sunday Mass, detonated explosives, and opened fire indiscriminately, leaving the community traumatised.
A senior security source described Yusuf as a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), who played a strategic role in planning and executing the attack. After fleeing to Kano State, he relocated to Edo, where he concealed his identity while living among unsuspecting residents.
During interrogation, Yusuf reportedly confessed to his involvement in the Owo church massacre as well as other deadly operations, including the July 2022 attack on Suleja military barracks, the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault that killed five soldiers, and multiple ISWAP kidnappings across Kaduna State. He also acknowledged serving under ISWAP commanders such as Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested in 2024.
The DSS is already prosecuting five other suspects in connection with the Owo massacre. Security authorities said Yusuf’s arrest represents a major milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims and their families, highlighting the DSS’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and dismantle ISWAP networks in Nigeria.
