Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested a sixth suspect connected to the 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, where dozens of worshippers lost their lives.
The suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, was arrested in the Iguosa community along the Powerline axis of Ovia North Local Government Area in Edo State after spending years on the run. Security officials said he had been tracked since the June 5, 2022, attack but managed to evade arrest by moving across several states.
Investigations revealed that Yusuf initially fled to Kano after the church attack before later relocating to Edo State, where he reportedly lived quietly in a rural area while avoiding detection.
Security officials described Yusuf as a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province, alleging that he played a central role in planning and carrying out the Owo church attack. He is also accused of participating in other violent operations, including attacks on security checkpoints, military facilities, and multiple kidnapping operations across northern Nigeria.
Authorities said Yusuf confessed to involvement in several coordinated attacks carried out by the terror group between 2022 and subsequent years.
Five other suspects are already standing trial in connection with the Owo church massacre, facing terrorism-related charges. Officials added that Yusuf was linked to senior terror figures previously arrested by security agencies.
The arrest has been described as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to bring all those responsible for the Owo attack and other related incidents to justice, as authorities reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism across the country.
