Nigerian Army Confirms ISWAP Commander Killed in Ondo

Nigerian forces killed Abdussamad Ohida, an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander also known as Anwar, during a joint operation in Owo forest in Ondo State, the Nigerian Army confirmed. The operation involved the army, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the regional security corps Amotekun, according to the reports. The army did not disclose a casualty count or provide further operational details. Army spokesman Maj. Innocent Olamale confirmed the operation in a telephone statement on Monday, October 5. The raid took place over the weekend in a forest near Owo, in southwestern Nigeria. While accounts from security sources said other ISWAP members were killed, the army’s confirmation did not specify how many people died. The DSS said intelligence obtained by questioning Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, indicated that Ohida was planning attacks on civilians during the festive season and intended to disrupt Nigeria’s 2027 elections. Ikrimah was arrested in 2023, according to the accounts.