Department of State Services has arrested Shafiu Usman in connection with the deadly attack on Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Aiyetoro, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Gatekeepers News reports that security sources disclosed that Usman was tracked and apprehended at a hideout in Gombe State after weeks of intelligence-led surveillance by operatives of the secret police.
His arrest followed investigations into the December 14, 2025 attack, during which suspected bandits stormed the church during a Sunday service and abducted at least 20 worshippers.
The incident had triggered a fierce gun battle between the attackers and local hunters, leading to the death of four bandits, while several worshippers were taken away into the forest.
Days later, distressing videos of the captives surfaced on social media, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed calls for enhanced security. Some of the abducted victims have since regained their freedom.
According to security officials, Usman confessed to working closely with Ibrahim Dange Battijo, a notorious bandit leader linked to multiple violent attacks across Niger, Kwara, Kogi, and Zamfara states.
The suspect reportedly revealed that Battijo supplied him with weapons and ammunition used in carrying out criminal operations.
The arrest forms part of the DSS’ intensified crackdown on terror networks and armed groups across the country. Recently, the agency also apprehended a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed over 40 lives.
Security authorities said investigations are ongoing, while efforts continue to track down other members of the syndicate responsible for the Kogi church attack and related crimes.
