Details have surfaced regarding a Department of State Services (DSS) operation that led to the apprehension of 10 suspected members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Ilesa, Osun State.
AFRIPOST gathered that the raid took place on December 16, 2024, at an old bungalow located near St. Mary Catholic Church in the Ifofin and Ogbon Idio areas of Ilesa-East Local Government. About 30 DSS operatives carried out the operation at around 1 a.m.
The arrests were publicly disclosed on January 10, 2025, when the DSS sought court approval to detain the suspects for 60 days.
Those arrested include Adamu Abubakar (aka Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha, Katuru Muhammed, Babakura Abacha, Muhammed Ciroma, Ali Gambo, Muhammed Umoru, and Muhammed Bundi.
Authorities reported that the suspects were undergoing training in the production and use of explosives, confirming their affiliation with Boko Haram/ISWAP.
Sources revealed that the operation was the culmination of a 90-day surveillance effort by two DSS team dispatched from Abuja.
The first team began covert operations in late September 2024, with the second team joining in mid-November.
Local DSS officials were excluded from the mission due to concerns about compromised intelligence.
Undercover agents were embedded in the community for months to monitor the suspects’ activities.
After confirming their findings, a tactical unit carried out a swift operation, seizing bomb-making materials and ISWAP-related documents without firing a single shot.
In the aftermath of the arrests, the DSS reassigned senior officers and relocated over 150 personnel from Osun State to northern regions, including Benue, Jigawa, and Bauchi.
Intelligence indicated that the suspects had been monitored since 2023 following an uncovered plot to attack a church in Ilesa.
ISWAP was also linked to bank robberies in Iree and Iragbiji in 2021 and prior arrests in Ile-Ife in 2022.
Local residents expressed shock at the revelations. Mohammed Borni, a community leader, stated that the suspects, who were known as a wristwatch and MP3 sellers, had not aroused suspicion.
“It’s been two months since the arrests, and we’ve had no contact with them,” he said.
A local tailor, Bimpe Olaiwola, shared her concerns: “We lived peacefully with them, but this news has made everyone more cautious. I hope the authorities will ensure our safety.”
The incident has heightened security awareness in the area, leaving residents wary about their surroundings.
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