Army, DSS, Amotekun Kill ISWAP Commander Planning Attacks in Southern Nigeria

A joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) has killed a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Abdussamad Ohida, also known as Anwar, in Owo, Ondo State.

Ohida was reportedly killed alongside other members of the terrorist group during an intelligence-led operation targeting an ISWAP hideout in Owo forest.

Security sources said the operation disrupted alleged plans by the group to launch terrorist attacks in southern Nigeria during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year period and cause disruption ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The intelligence that led security agencies to Ohida was reportedly developed by the DSS and strengthened by information obtained during the interrogation of Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais, a former ISWAP leader in Central Nigeria who was arrested in 2023.

Ohida had reportedly served as Ikrimah’s deputy before taking on a more prominent leadership role following his arrest. Security sources said he subsequently coordinated ISWAP activities across parts of the North-Central and southern regions of Nigeria.

The intelligence was reportedly corroborated with assistance from security partners in the United Kingdom, leading to the operation in Owo.

Ohida had previously been linked by Nigerian authorities to several deadly attacks across the country.

Government sanctions records identify Abdulsamat Abdulkareem Ohida as a senior ISWAP commander, or Qaid, operating in Okene. He was also linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, where worshippers were killed and others injured.

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He was further linked to the July 11, 2022 attack on Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, as well as attacks on security formations in Kogi and Niger states.

Security sources also attributed to him the December 31, 2025 attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo, during which several weapons were reportedly stolen before the facility was destroyed with explosives.

Other attacks attributed to the commander include the July 28, 2022 attack on a military checkpoint along the Suleja-Zuba Road in Niger State, the April 23, 2022 attack on Ogaminana Police Station in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, and the February 7, 2022 attack on the Okene Area Command Police Station.

The December 24, 2020 attack on a naval checkpoint in Okene, which reportedly killed two naval personnel, was also linked to him by security sources.

The latest operation is significant because of concerns over the expansion of terrorist networks into southern Nigeria, away from areas traditionally associated with insurgent activity.

Security sources described Ohida’s reported death as a major setback for the ISWAP network in the region and said the operation had disrupted plans for further attacks.

However, authorities have yet to publicly release a comprehensive account of the operation, including the exact number of other ISWAP members reportedly killed or the full details of the intelligence and military engagement.

The operation comes amid intensified efforts by Nigerian security agencies to prevent terrorist groups from establishing footholds in the South-West and other parts of southern Nigeria, particularly as the country approaches the festive season and the 2027 elections.

Army, DSS, Amotekun Kill ISWAP Commander Planning Attacks in Southern Nigeria

MURIC Accuses OAU International School of Restricting Hijab-Wearing Students

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the management of the International School, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, of restricting hijab-wearing Muslim students from accessing the school premises.

MURIC alleged that female Muslim students were locked out of the school for several days after authorities reportedly insisted that they remove their hijabs before being allowed into the compound.

The organisation condemned the alleged action and called for the immediate lifting of what it described as a restriction on the use of hijab by Muslim students.

In a statement issued on Monday, October 5, 2026, MURIC Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the affected students eventually returned to school without their hijabs after they were allegedly informed that the matter would not be considered until the next meeting of the university council in December.

Akintola described the development as discriminatory and argued that it raised concerns about religious freedom, girl-child education and the rights of Muslim students.

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He cited Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and argued that school regulations should not be applied in a manner that violates constitutionally protected religious rights.

“The argument that the use of hijab violates the school’s rules does not hold any water,” Akintola said, maintaining that Muslim students should be allowed to observe their faith while pursuing their education.

MURIC also questioned the reported circumstances surrounding the restriction and urged OAU and the International School authorities to clarify the policy governing religious attire at the institution.

The organisation further expressed concern about the effect of the dispute on the affected students, who it described as underage girls, and their parents.

According to MURIC, preventing students from attending school over their religious attire could undermine efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

The group also rejected what it said could be the argument that the school’s internal rules supersede constitutional protections, insisting that institutional regulations must conform to the country’s laws.

MURIC called on the OAU authorities to address the dispute through dialogue and respect for religious diversity, warning that continued disagreement over the issue could create tension between the university community and residents of Ile-Ife.

The organisation alleged that the action could amount to discrimination against Muslim students, but those allegations have not been independently established.

MURIC therefore demanded that any restriction on hijab-wearing students at OAU International School be lifted immediately and that the affected students be allowed to attend classes without being required to abandon their religious attire.

The group said resolving the matter in a manner that protects the students’ rights would help preserve peaceful coexistence and OAU’s reputation as a major Nigerian educational institution.

MURIC Accuses OAU International School of Restricting Hijab-Wearing Students

Ex-APC Women Leader Found Dead With Throat Slit in Bauchi

A former APC Women Leader in Bauchi South, Jemimah Dutse, has been found dead inside her residence in Bauchi State, with her throat allegedly slit by unidentified assailants.

Dutse was discovered in a pool of blood at her residence in Muazu New Layout, Yelwa, Bauchi, on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

The Bauchi State Police Command said the incident was reported at about 2:07pm by a 49-year-old man, following which detectives visited the residence and documented the scene.

Her body was subsequently evacuated to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, for medical examination and autopsy.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed that the case be transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a discreet and thorough investigation.

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The police said the investigation is focused on establishing the circumstances surrounding Dutse’s death and identifying the person or persons responsible.

The motive for the killing remains unknown, and authorities have not established any link between the death and Dutse’s previous political activities.

The command has appealed for calm and expressed condolences to Dutse’s family, friends and political associates, while assuring them that efforts are underway to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death.

The incident has also generated concern among residents and groups in Bauchi, with calls for a comprehensive investigation and improved security in the area.

The Take-It-Back Movement, Bauchi chapter, condemned the killing and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those responsible.

The group also urged the authorities to conduct a high-powered investigation into the incident and strengthen security measures across Bauchi metropolis and surrounding communities.

Police said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.

Ex-APC Women Leader Found Dead With Throat Slit in Bauchi