Terrorist kingpin behind mass abduction of worshippers in Kogi's ECWA Church arrested
Shafiu Usman, the alleged mastermind of the deadly attack on Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi State, where more than 20 worshippers were
Shafiu Usman, the alleged mastermind of the deadly attack on Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi State, where more than 20 worshippers were abducted on December 14, 2025, has been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS)
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) quoted a security source as confirming the arrest of Usman at a hideout in Gombe State where he had been living off the radar following the mass abduction of the worshippers.
Twenty worshippers were abducted during the violent attack on the church while service was in progress on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
Eyewitness accounts said the gunmen invaded the church, firing sporadically to scare worshippers before forcibly taking many members away through the surrounding bush paths.
A worshipper identified simply as JayJay was killed during the incident.
The gunmen had reportedly operated for several minutes without resistance before fleeing the scene with their captives.
The kidnapped victims were released many weeks later after payment of ransom.
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Some of the victims died in the custody of the kidnappers.
However, Usman who is now in DSS custody, reportedly confessed to orchestrating the attack as well as other kidnappings in Niger, Kwara and Kogi states, according to a report on the website of the NTA.
According to the report, Usman told security operatives that he collaborated with Ibrahim Dange Battijo, a notorious bandit operating across Niger, Kwara, Kogi and Zamfara states for the abduction of worshippers.
Shafiu also allegedly admitted to involvement in kidnapping, banditry and cattle rustling with Battijo supplying him with arms and ammunition.
Usman fled to Gombe after the attack in Kogi, but DSS operatives trailed and arrested him.
Usman is now in DSS custody awaiting arraignment.
Security sources said the secret police had in recent operations in Gombe State neutralised arms trafficking networks, rescued kidnap victims and dismantled cross-state syndicates.
