Daniel Otera
Nigeria has made a monumental stride in its fight against terrorism with the capture of two of the most notorious leaders of the Ansaru group. These terrorists, connected to Al-Qaeda, have been responsible for countless acts of violence across the country, but their arrest marks a major victory for national security.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed in a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday that the intelligence-driven operation, which spanned several months, resulted in the apprehension of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, also called Mallam Mamuda. Both men have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years, and their capture signals a critical blow to the terrorist group.
Abu Bara’a, the so-called “Emir of Ansaru,” was the mastermind behind several high-profile kidnappings and terrorist financing schemes.
His deputy, Mamuda, led the “Mahmudawa” faction, notorious for operating in the Kainji National Park and other border regions. Both individuals are believed to have received military training in Libya under jihadist instructors, solidifying their dangerous status as seasoned militants.
The capture took place between May and July 2025, and Ribadu described it as one of the most decisive operations against Ansaru since the group’s inception in 2012. “The fall of Ansaru’s leadership signals the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders in Nigeria,” Ribadu declared, emphasizing that their network’s collapse would pave the way for further dismantling of terrorist operations in the country.
Ansaru, which broke away from Boko Haram in 2012, has committed numerous atrocities, including the 2022 Kuje prison break, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, and the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba. Their connection to other extremist groups in the Sahel region, including those in Mali and Burkina Faso, has made them a formidable threat in West Africa.
Ribadu commended the Nigerian military and intelligence agencies for their coordination in bringing down Ansaru’s central command. During the operation, security forces recovered vital intelligence, including digital evidence, which is currently under forensic analysis.
This evidence is expected to lead to further breakthroughs in combating terrorism both in Nigeria and across the Sahel.