Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested the alleged mastermind of the December 14, 2025 attack on the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Church in Ayetoro, Kogi State, which resulted in the abduction of dozens of worshippers.
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Security sources confirmed on Friday that the suspect, identified as Shafiu Usman, was apprehended at a hideout in Gombe State, where he had reportedly fled after the attack. He was tracked and arrested following weeks of intelligence-led operations.
According to a top security official, Usman confessed during interrogation to orchestrating the Ayetoro church attack and coordinating several other kidnapping operations across Niger, Kwara and Kogi states. He allegedly worked in collaboration with Ibrahim Dange Battijo, described as a notorious bandit operating across Niger, Kwara, Kogi and Zamfara states.
“Shafiu admitted to involvement in kidnapping, banditry and cattle rustling. He said Ibrahim Battijo supplied him with arms and ammunition,” the source disclosed.
The December 14 attack occurred when armed men riding motorcycles stormed Ayetoro-Kiri community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The assailants reportedly invaded homes and churches, abducting at least 30 residents, mostly children and elderly worshippers, before fleeing through nearby forests.
Security officials said that after the attack, Usman escaped to Gombe State in a bid to evade arrest, but operatives of the DSS trailed and apprehended him.
The source noted that the arrest underscores the agency’s ongoing efforts to curb banditry and terrorism, particularly through recent operations targeting arms trafficking networks, rescuing kidnap victims and dismantling cross-state criminal syndicates.
The suspect is currently in DSS custody and is expected to be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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