DSS Unveils Explosive Arrests: 10 ISWAP Members Captured In Osun State’s Secretive Operation

DSS Unveils Explosive Arrests: 10 ISWAP Members Captured In Osun State’s Secretive Operation

Details have emerged about a Department of State Services (DSS) operation that led to the capture of 10 suspected members of Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Ilesa, Osun State. The raid took place on December..DSS Unveils Explosive Arrests: 10 ISWAP Members Captured In Osun State’s Secretive Operation

16, 2024, at an old bungalow near St. Mary Catholic Church in the Ifofin and Ogbon Idio areas of Ilesa-East Local Government Area.

The operation, involving around 30 DSS operatives, began at approximately 1 a.m. and was kept under wraps until January 10, 2025, when the DSS sought a Federal High Court order in Abuja to detain the suspects for 60 days. The arrested suspects have been 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.

The DSS confirmed that the suspects were apprehended while undergoing training to manufacture and detonate explosives. Preliminary investigations suggest that they are members of Boko Haram/ISWAP. The operation, which lasted 90 days, involved two teams from the DSS headquarters who had been conducting surveillance since late September 2024. Intelligence reports indicated the suspects had been monitored since 2023, after an alleged plot to attack a church in Ilesa was uncovered.

An undercover officer revealed that agents had infiltrated the community, blending in with the locals to pinpoint the exact location of the suspects. The tactical operation was conducted without gunfire, maintaining a low profile. During the raid, ISWAP materials and bomb-making equipment were seized.

Following the arrests, the DSS restructured its personnel, transferring over 150 officers from Osun to northern states like Benue, Jigawa, and Bauchi. The suspects were also reportedly linked to bank robberies in Iree and Iragbiji in 2021. This operation follows previous DSS actions in Osun State, including arrests in Ile-Ife in 2022 involving suspected terrorists from Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Local residents have expressed shock, with some noting that they had no suspicions of the suspects’ criminal activities, as they had been selling wristwatches and MP3 players. The arrests have heightened security concerns, with residents urging authorities to ensure their safety in the area.

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