By Adetokunbo Abiola
An intelligence-driven raid on a suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) hideout in a forest in Owo, Ondo State has resulted in the death of a suspected senior commander, Abdussamad Ohida, also known as Anwar.
Ohida was reportedly eliminated at the weekend by a combined team of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun Corps.
Daily Monitor learned that the death halted alleged manoeuvres by the terrorist group to carry out raids in parts of southern Nigeria, especially during the fast-approaching festive period.
This paper learned that Ohida had once operated as deputy to the ISWAP commander for Central Nigeria, Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, who was apprehended by the DSS in 2023.
With Ikrimah’s arrest, Ohida allegedly assumed command of ISWAP operations in parts of the North-Central and southern regions, where he was said to have initiated numerous operations and other terrorist activities.
The source said intelligence gathered during the interrogation of Abu Uwais assisted security agencies to unravel Ohida’s alleged intention to carry out attacks on civilians during the Yuletide and cause confusion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ohida was fingered for several major attacks in the country, including the December 31, 2025, assault on the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, where eight AK-47 rifles were reportedly stolen before the facility was destroyed with explosives.
Ohida was also alleged to have been involved in the July 28, 2022 attack on a military checkpoint along the Suleja-Zuba Road in Niger State, the July 11, 2022 assault on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, and attacks on police formations in Ogaminana and Okene, Kogi State.
Daily Monitor learned that the suspected ISWAP commander was involved in the December 24, 2020 attack on a naval checkpoint in Okene, which reportedly claimed the lives of two naval officers, as well as other attacks carried out in different parts of the country.
Reacting to the development, our source described Ohida’s death as a major setback to ISWAP’s leadership structure and its reported attempts to establish a stronger operational presence in Central and Southern Nigeria.
The source said, “The elimination of Abdussamad Ohida represents a significant disruption to ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria.”