Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested the alleged mastermind of the December 14, 2025 attack on the ECWA Church Ayetoro in Ayetoro, Kogi State.
Scurity sources revealed that the suspect, identified as Shafiu Usman, was captured at a hideout in Gombe State, where he had allegedly gone into hiding following the incident.
According to The PUNCH, one of the sources who spoke on Friday, Usman confessed during interrogation to coordinating the Ayetoro church attack as well as multiple kidnapping operations across Niger State, Kwara State, and Kogi State.
The source added that Usman operated alongside Ibrahim Battijo, described as a bandit active across Niger, Kwara, Kogi and Zamfara State.
The security official stated, “Our operatives arrested Shafiu Usman, the alleged mastermind behind the attack on ECWA Church in Ayetoro, Kogi State.
He was picked up in a hideout in Gombe after fleeing there. During questioning, he admitted to the Ayetoro attack and other kidnappings across Niger, Kwara and Kogi States. He worked closely with Ibrahim Battijo, a well-known bandit active across several states.”
The source further disclosed that DSS operatives had been tracking Usman’s movements since the Kogi incident.
“After the attack, he escaped to Gombe, but DSS personnel monitored his trail and apprehended him. This arrest highlights ongoing progress in tackling banditry and terrorism, including recent operations in Gombe that disrupted arms-trafficking networks, rescued kidnap victims, and dismantled cross-state syndicates. The suspect remains in custody and will be arraigned soon,” the source said.
The December 14, 2025 incident occurred when armed men on motorcycles entered the Ayetoro-Kiri community in Kabba/Bunu LGA of Kogi State and abducted several residents, including children and elderly worshippers.
The attackers targeted homes and places of worship before escaping through nearby forest routes.
