Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces have killed a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Abdussamad Ohida, during a joint security operation in Owo Forest, Ondo State.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday during the military’s monthly operational briefing.
Onoja said the operation was conducted on October 2, 2026, by a joint team of security forces targeting terrorist hideouts in the forest. Several terrorists were killed, including Ohida, whom he identified as the deputy to ISWAP’s leader in Central Nigeria.
He said Ohida took over the group’s leadership following the arrest of its former leader by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2023.
According to the Defence spokesman, the slain commander was involved in planning large-scale attacks against civilians in several states ahead of the festive season.
Onoja described his killing as a major breakthrough in efforts to disrupt ISWAP’s operations and prevent planned attacks across the country.
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