Nigeria: Security Agents Kill ISWAP Commander in Ondo

What the report says

Security forces in Ondo State said they killed Abdussamad Ohida, identified as a commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), during an operation in a forest area of Owo in the northern part of the state. The report, published by Daily Trust and distributed by AllAfrica, said the operation took place on Sunday, 6 October 2026.

The Nigerian Army’s 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure confirmed the operation through its spokesperson, who said the mission involved troops, operatives of the State Security Services, and the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun. According to the report, officials said Ohida, also known as Anwar, was killed along with other members of his group.

The article said the raid followed intelligence that he was planning attacks on civilians in southern Nigeria, including around the Christmas and New Year period. It also linked him to earlier attacks in several states, including incidents in Owo, Niger, Abuja and Kogi, though these allegations were presented as part of the security account and were not independently verified in the text.

The killing is significant because it reflects ongoing counterinsurgency efforts against ISWAP beyond Nigeria’s northeast. More broadly, it highlights how security agencies are trying to disrupt alleged militant planning across the country using joint operations and intelligence-sharing.