The alleged mastermind of the Christmas day bombing of Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, Habibu Bama, has died in custody, according to reports.

Mr. Bama, who was declared wanted by the State Security Service for his alleged role in the Madalla bombings which killed over 40 worshippers, died from gunshot wounds he sustained in a scuffle with soldiers of the Joint Task Force in Yobe on Thursday, according to an online medium, Sahara Reporters.

The blog quoted a JTF source as saying Mr. Bama “was critically wounded yesterday when we tried to arrest him and he resisted. He died this morning from the gunshot wounds.”

Mr. Bama was a former soldier and hailed from Bama town in Borno State. He is believed to be a senior member of the terrorist group, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lil Da’awati wal Jihad, popularly called Boko Haram.

More details to come.