DSS Arrests Sixth Suspect in 2022 Owo Church Massacre After Four-Year Manhunt

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Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the sixth suspect linked to the deadly 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, bringing a significant breakthrough in one of Nigeria's most shocking acts of terrorism.

The suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf—a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)—was captured in Iguosa community, along Powerline in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. Security sources described the arrest as the culmination of years of intelligence-led surveillance and persistent tracking, with Yusuf having evaded capture for nearly four years since the June 5, 2022, massacre.

In the attack, gunmen stormed the church during Sunday Mass, killing over 40 worshippers and injuring dozens more in a brutal assault that drew widespread national and international condemnation.

The DSS is already prosecuting five other suspects—Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47)—on terrorism charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The trial has seen key testimonies, including from DSS witnesses who detailed forensic evidence and tracking efforts leading to earlier arrests in 2022.

Sources indicate that Yusuf confessed during initial interrogations to involvement in the Owo attack and other ISWAP operations, including the July 2022 attack on a military barracks in Suleja.

This latest arrest underscores ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to dismantle terrorist networks responsible for attacks on soft targets, particularly places of worship. The DSS described the operation as a major success in delivering justice for victims and their families.

Further details on Yusuf's arraignment and any additional charges are expected soon as investigations continue.

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