Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Shafiu Usman, the suspected mastermind of a brazen armed attack on the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro-Kiri, Kogi State, which occurred on December 14, 2025.
The incident, which took place during a Sunday worship service in the remote community of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, involved a large group of gunmen who arrived on motorcycles. The attackers opened fire, creating panic among congregants, resulting in at least one death and the abduction of numerous worshippers—reports vary from over 20 to as many as 30 victims, including vulnerable individuals such as children and the elderly.
Initial accounts from Reuters and local sources indicated that at least 13 worshippers were kidnapped, while other reports described dozens abducted from the church and surrounding homes. The victims were reportedly held in nearby forests before being released following the payment of ransom by their families or community efforts.
The assault highlighted ongoing security challenges in parts of North-Central Nigeria, where banditry and kidnappings have targeted religious gatherings and rural communities. Christian leaders, including representatives from the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), condemned the violence and renewed calls for greater protection against what some described as systematic attacks on Christians.
In a significant breakthrough announced today, DSS operatives tracked and apprehended Usman at a hideout in Gombe State, where he had fled after the attack to evade capture. Security sources confirmed that the suspect is now in custody and awaiting arraignment.
During interrogation, Usman allegedly confessed to orchestrating the Ayetoro church raid. He reportedly admitted involvement in multiple other criminal activities, including kidnappings across Niger, Kwara, and Kogi States, as well as banditry and cattle rustling. Usman revealed that he collaborated with a notorious bandit named Ibrahim Battijo (also referred to as Ibrahim Dange Battijo), who allegedly supplied him with arms and ammunition for operations spanning several states, including Zamfara.
The DSS described the arrest as part of broader efforts to dismantle bandit syndicates, neutralize arms trafficking networks, rescue kidnap victims, and disrupt cross-state criminal operations in the region. The capture comes amid other recent security successes, underscoring intensified operations against insecurity.Community leaders and residents of Ayetoro-Kiri expressed relief at the development, though many remain concerned about persistent threats in the area. Local hunters, who engaged the attackers during the incident, had provided initial resistance alongside state-employed vigilantes.
Authorities have not released further details on potential charges or additional suspects, but the arrest is seen as a step toward justice for the victims and improved security for worship centres in vulnerable regions.This incident is the latest in a series of reported attacks in Ayetoro-Kiri in 2025, raising alarms about the safety of religious and rural communities in Kogi State.
