By Ade Oyeyemi
A senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province, Abdussamad Ohida, also known as Anwar, has reportedly been killed during a joint security operation in Owo forest, Ondo State.
Ohida was said to have been eliminated alongside several other suspected members of the terrorist group during an intelligence-led operation involving the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun.
Security sources told our correspondent that the operation was carried out at the weekend following intelligence that Ohida was allegedly planning attacks in parts of Southern Nigeria.
The sources said Ohida previously served as deputy to the ISWAP Central Nigeria commander, Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, who was arrested by the DSS in 2023.
Following Ikrimah’s arrest, Ohida allegedly took over the coordination of ISWAP activities across parts of North-Central and Southern Nigeria.
He was subsequently accused of playing a leading role in the planning and execution of several attacks attributed to the group.
The sources said intelligence obtained during the interrogation of Ikrimah helped security agencies uncover Ohida’s alleged plans to attack civilians during the forthcoming festive period.
One of the sources said the planned attacks were also intended to disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.
“The plan was to attack civilians during the festive period and ultimately disrupt the 2027 general elections. This intelligence was corroborated by intelligence partners from the United Kingdom, who supported the elimination operation,” the source said.
The source further alleged that Ohida was responsible for several attacks on security formations across the country.
These allegedly included the December 31, 2025, attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, Ondo State, where eight AK-47 rifles were reportedly taken before the station was destroyed with explosives.
He was also linked to the July 28, 2022, attack on a military checkpoint along the Suleja-Zuba Road in Niger State, during which soldiers, security personnel and civilians were reportedly killed.
Other attacks attributed to him included the July 11, 2022, assault on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja and the April 23, 2022, attack on Ogaminana Police Station in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, where five police officers were reportedly killed.
The source also linked Ohida to the February 7, 2022, attack on the Okene Area Command Police Station and the December 24, 2020, assault on a naval checkpoint in Okene, Kogi State, which reportedly resulted in the death of two naval officers.
The source described Ohida’s death as a major setback for ISWAP’s activities in central and southern Nigeria.
“We may not immediately realise it, but the elimination of Abdussamad Ohida represents a significant disruption to ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria,” the source said.
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The source added that Ohida’s death, coming months after the reported killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki, could affect the group’s efforts to expand its operations in Nigeria.
However, the allegations concerning Ohida’s role in the various attacks and the details of the latest operation were attributed to security sources.
