In a significant breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, Nigeria’s security agencies have arrested two top leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in the country. The arrested leaders are Mahmud Muhammad Usman, alias Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, identified as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, alias Mallam Mamuda.
According to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the intelligence-led operation was carried out between May and July 2025 in collaboration with security and intelligence agencies. Abu Bara’a coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and masterminded high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to finance terrorism. His deputy, Mamuda, led the “Mahmudawa” cell around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors, specializing in weapons handling and IED fabrication.
The suspects were responsible for several high-profile attacks, including the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on Niger’s uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, and the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura. They also maintained active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb region, particularly in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Ribadu noted that the capture of these two leaders has dismantled Ansaru’s central command structure, marking a significant achievement in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
The National Security Adviser emphasized that the operation highlights Nigeria’s advanced counter-terrorism capabilities, which involved months of deep surveillance, human intelligence, and technical tracking. Valuable intelligence, including a cache of materials and digital evidence, was recovered during the operation and is undergoing forensic analysis to support ongoing efforts to completely neutralize the Ansaru network and disrupt its foreign collaborators.
Ribadu urged citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies to help sustain the fight against terrorism. The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the lives of Nigerians, dismantling terrorist networks, and working with international partners to secure peace and stability across the country.
