In a significant counter-terrorism operation, a joint team comprising the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and Amotekun forces successfully eliminated a senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abdussamad Ohida, in the Owo forest of Ondo State over the weekend.

Security sources revealed that Ohida, also known as Anwar, was actively planning to carry out large-scale terrorist attacks in southern Nigeria. His demise, along with several members of his group, occurred during a surprise assault on their hideout, which was informed by intelligence gathered from various sources, including the United Kingdom.

Ohida had previously served as the deputy to ISWAP's Central Nigeria leader, Abu Ikrimah, who was apprehended by the DSS in 2023. Following Ikrimah's capture, Ohida took over the leadership of ISWAP's operations in parts of North Central and Southern Nigeria, where he was instrumental in orchestrating numerous terrorist activities.

Intelligence reports indicated that Ohida was plotting attacks against civilians during the upcoming Yuletide celebrations, with the aim of disrupting the 2027 general elections. This information was corroborated by intelligence partners, leading to the coordinated operation that resulted in his elimination.

Notably, Ohida was implicated in several high-profile attacks, including the December 31, 2025, assault on the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, where he and his group stole AK-47 rifles and destroyed the station with explosives. He was also linked to the deadly July 11, 2022, attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, which resulted in numerous casualties, and the April 23, 2022, attack on the Ogaminana Police Station in Kogi State that claimed the lives of five police officers.

The security sources emphasized that Ohida's elimination is a critical blow to ISWAP's leadership and operational capabilities in Nigeria. They noted that this operation follows the recent killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki, further underscoring the growing effectiveness of Nigeria's security forces in combating terrorism. The removal of such a key figure from ISWAP's ranks is expected to disrupt their plans and hinder their efforts to expand their influence in the region.