A most-wanted terror suspect linked to the horrific 2022 Owo church massacre has finally been captured after nearly four years on the run.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) swooped on Sani Yusuf, said to be a top commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Edo State — bringing fresh hope of justice for the families of more than 40 worshippers slaughtered at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ondo State.
The bloodbath stunned the nation when gunmen stormed the church during Sunday Mass, killing dozens and injuring many more in one of Nigeria’s most chilling terror attacks.
Security sources said Yusuf was tracked down in Iguosa community along Powerline in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State. After the massacre, he allegedly slipped into Kano before quietly relocating to Edo in a desperate bid to evade capture.
But DSS operatives, who had been on his trail for years, finally closed in.
“He was one of the most wanted fugitives in Nigeria,” a source disclosed.
According to insiders, Yusuf has confessed to playing a role in planning and executing the Owo church massacre.
He is also said to have admitted involvement in the July 2022 attack on the Suleja military barracks, as well as kidnappings across Kaduna State.
Sources further claimed he confessed to the deadly Zuma Rock checkpoint assault that claimed the lives of five soldiers. Investigators say he operated under senior ISWAP commanders, including Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024.
The DSS is already prosecuting five other suspects over the Owo atrocity — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).
Officials described Yusuf’s arrest as a major breakthrough in the long-running case, saying it marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victims.
For grieving families, the dramatic arrest may signal that accountability is finally within reach.
