The Department of State Services (DSS) has revealed details of a covert operation that led to the arrest of 10 suspected members of Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Ilesa, Osun State.
It was gathered that the raid conducted around 1am on December 16, 2024, targeted an old bungalow near St. Mary Catholic Church, Ifofin, and Ogbon Idio in the Ilesa-East Local Government Area.
A team of about 30 DSS operatives carried out the operation, which had been in motion for 90 days.
The suspects, identified as Adamu Abubakar (aka Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha, Katuru Muhammed, Babakura Abacha, Muhammed Ciroma, Ali Gambo, Muhammed Umoru, and Muhammed Bundi, were reportedly undergoing training on manufacturing and detonating explosives at the time of their arrest.
According to DSS findings, the suspects are confirmed members of Boko Haram/ISWAP, and preliminary investigations suggest plans for coordinated terror attacks.
However, the arrest came to public attention on January 10, 2025, when the DSS filed an application with the Federal High Court in Abuja to detain the suspects for 60 days.
The operation took 90 days, involving two separate teams from the DSS headquarters.
The first team was deployed to Ilesa in late September 2024, while the second arrived in mid-November 2024.
However, sources disclosed that the DSS Osun command was excluded from the operation due to fears of compromised intelligence after initial signals on ISWAP activities in Ilesa were reportedly leaked.
According to PUNCH, the Department of State Services (DSS) executed the covert operation in Ifofin, Ilesa, Osun State, leading to the arrest of individuals suspected of ties to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The operation, carried out in the early hours without any gunfire, was the result of extensive undercover work and surveillance over several months.
Security sources revealed that the DSS began tracking the suspects in 2023 after receiving intelligence about a potential ISWAP attack on a church in Ilesa.
However, despite an initial setback due to leaked information, the DSS intensified its efforts, which culminated in the December 16 operation.
The suspects were apprehended with materials linked to ISWAP and bomb-making equipment.
The operation involved tactical teams from outside Osun, who meticulously monitored the suspects’ activities and environment for 30 days before making the arrests.
Meanwhile, those detained, described as wristwatch and accessory vendors, were taken from separate residences in the Ifofin and Ogbon Idio areas of Ilesa.
Residents and community leaders expressed surprise and confusion over the arrests. Many described the suspects as peaceful traders who had lived in the area for years.
Mohammed Borni, a local leader, stated, “We were shocked when they were arrested. We have not seen or heard from them since.”
Another leader, Abba Chellu, disclosed that 11 individuals were arrested in two separate operations.
The incident has heightened concerns among locals, who are now more vigilant.
Some residents, like tailor Bimpe Olaiwola, expressed fear about living among suspected terrorists.
“We have lived peacefully, but now we are more cautious,” she said. Others, such as Tope Niyi, emphasised the need for increased security awareness.
This is not the first time the DSS has acted against suspected terrorists in Osun State.
In 2022, operatives arrested suspects in Ile-Ife, including individuals linked to similar groups.