An intelligence-led operation by a combined team of troops of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, and Western Nigeria Security Network aka Amotekun officers, at the weekend in Owo forest, Ondo State, eliminated a senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abdussamad Ohida.

Reports quoting security sources said Ohida, aka Anwar, who was on the verge of planning massive terrorist attacks in some southern states, was killed alongside many members of the terrorist organisation by the security forces who led a surprise attack on their forest hideout.

According to the sources, the eliminated ISWAP leader previously served as deputy to ISWAP Central Nigeria leader Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais. Ikrimah was arrested by the DSS in 2023.

Following Ikrimah’s arrest, continued the sources, Ohida assumed leadership of ISWAP activities across parts of North Central and southern parts of the country, where he subsequently played a key role in the planning, coordination and execution of terrorist operations.

Through the interrogation of Abu Uwais, continued the sources, the DSS was able to gather credible intelligence on plans by Ohida to attack innocent persons during the forthcoming Yuletide.

“The plan was to attack civilians during the festive period and ultimately disrupt the 2027 general elections. This Intelligence was corroborated by intelligence partners from the United Kingdom, who supported the elimination operation,” offered one of the sources.

He said Ohida planned and executed the December 31, 2025, invasion of Ipele Divisional Police Station, Owo, Ondo State, carting away right AK-47 rifles before bringing down the station with an explosive. He mentioned the 28 July 2022 Suleja–Zuba Road, Niger State military checkpoint attack in which several soldiers, officers and civilians were killed.

He also blamed Ohida for the July 11, 2022, attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja; the 23rd April, 2022 attack on Ogaminana Police Station, Adavi LGA, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of five police officers, and the February 7, 2022, attack on Okene Area Command police station.

“The terrorist planned and executed the 24th December, 2020 attack on a Naval checkpoint in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of two naval officers, not to mention the several attacks he launched across parts of the country,” he added.

“We may not immediately realize it, but the elimination of Abdussamad Ohida represents a significant disruption to ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria.

“Ohida’s elimination, coming a few months after the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki, is a very big blow to ISWAP’s efforts to expand its operational presence in Nigeria, and underscores the growing efficiency of our security services,” he declared.

Amnesty International Nigeria has urged Nigerian security authorities to investigate allegations of political violence threats made by politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections and ensure that those found responsible are held accountable.

The human rights organisation made the demand in a statement shared on its verified Facebook page on Saturday, following reported remarks attributed to the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe.

Amnesty International said Tenebe was reportedly quoted as threatening to deploy the “power of AK-47” against persons allegedly attempting to frustrate the APC’s ambition of securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

“Tenebe made the threat during a campaign rally in Edo State, where political violence is already rampant,” Amnesty International said.

The organisation also raised questions over the response of Nigerian security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, to what it described as public threats of violence issued by politicians.

It noted that such remarks were being made “in utter disregard for the rule of law and the nation’s Electoral Act.”

Amnesty International called on the authorities to ensure that politicians and other public figures, irrespective of their political affiliations, are held responsible for actions or statements that incite, threaten or encourage politically, religiously or ethnically motivated violence.

The organisation further stressed that accountability should cover individuals involved in carrying out or promoting violence and human rights violations before, during and after the 2027 general elections.

Gunmen have reduced the ransom demanded for the release of the 20 kidnapped prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from N50million to N5million each, bringing the total amount to N100million.

The kidnappers, last Friday, set a 24-hour deadline for the payment of the N50million ransom. The ultimatum expired on Sunday.

One of the affected parents, Alimot Akande, reportedly confirmed that the amount has been reviewed to N5million each.

She stated that the kidnappers established contact with the respective parents of the captives with their mobile telephone lines.

The distraught mother lamented that the victims are being subjected to rigorous torture as they are being asked to impress upon their parents that failure to meet up with their fresh demand may result in something else.

“They are still demanding N5 million. They have come down to N5 million each.”

“The total amount that is being expected to be paid by the affected parents has reduced from one billion naira to one hundred million naira.

Akande, however, said she could not confirm how much had been raised by the families to pay the ransom, explaining that she is not privy to the individual arrangements between the kidnappers and the other parents.

“I cannot say because I do not know how much they have told those people that they have.”

When asked to describe the situation from her perspective, Akande said: “It has been horrible, scary and overwhelming.”

The situation, according to her, became more disturbing after she spoke with her sister and learnt that the abductors had begun beating the victims.

“Sir, we appeal to the government to please assist us in getting them rescued out of that place. When I spoke to my sister, they started beating them since yesterday,” she said.

Asked whether the female corps members were also being assaulted, she said the kidnappers had shown no restraint.

“They are not sparing anybody. They are beating all of them,” she said.

She also disclosed that one of the abducted corps members had been allowed to communicate with his father, but the calls were allegedly being used by the kidnappers as an avenue to monitor the family’s ability to raise money.

According to her, the abductors would alert the victim whenever his father’s call came in and allow him to speak because they believed the father could provide the ransom.

She said, “His father has been communicating with him. The kidnappers give him access to a telephone. Whenever his father calls, they show him that a call came in for you. He would just say, ‘Oh, that’s my father.’

“They know money will come out of father’s hands, so they would just pick it and allow him to talk. And they have been beating him. They have been beating all of them.”

The parent also disclosed that the families have been relying on assurances from the police while efforts continued to secure the money demanded by the abductors.

“The police are telling us to still be buying time. We are still looking for the money. Depending on it, they will see them rescued,” she said.

Asked whether she was also directly affected by the incident, Akande replied: “I am. My sister was abducted.”

She identified her sister as Kehinde Akande and said she is 25 years old.