Nigerian Army troops
National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, has announced the successful capture of 2 notorious terrorists – Mahmud Muhammad Usman, alias Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, known as Mallam Mamuda, following an extensive intelligence-led operation.
NSA Ribadu announced this on Saturday during a press conference in Abuja.
Abu Bara’a, the self-styled “Emir of Ansaru,” orchestrated the group’s covert cells across Nigeria and was the mastermind behind numerous abductions and terrorist financing schemes.
His deputy, Mamuda, led the “Mahmudawa” faction of Ansaru, operating primarily around Kainji National Park, and received training in Libya from foreign jihadist mentors.
“These individuals have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and are also wanted globally,” Ribadu stated.
“Their arrests represent a significant setback for Ansaru since its formation in 2012.”
Ansaru, officially named Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, split from Boko Haram in 2012 and became infamous for targeting civilians, security personnel, and critical infrastructure.
Aligned with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the group claimed responsibility for major incidents, including the 2022 Kuje prison attack in Abuja, the 2013 kidnapping of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, the 2019 abduction of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, the kidnapping of the Emir of Wawa, and deadly assaults on a Niger uranium facility, alongside other cross-border activities.
Ribadu revealed that the arrests, conducted between May and July 2025, have effectively disrupted Ansaru’s leadership structure.
Seized materials and digital evidence are currently under forensic examination, expected to provide further insights into the group’s operations across Nigeria and the Sahel region.
The NSA commended President Bola Tinubu for his strategic backing and lauded the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and other partners for their collaborative efforts in the operation.
“The capture of Ansaru’s leaders marks a turning point in our fight against terrorism in Nigeria,” Ribadu asserted. “We remain committed to pursuing extremists with precision and relentless determination.”
Officials called on citizens to stay alert and cooperate with security agencies by sharing vital information, emphasizing that national security is a collective responsibility.
Premium Times
