Nigeria Arrests Two Senior Ansaru Terror Leaders in Major Counter-Terrorism Operation

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

The Federal Government has announced the arrest of two top commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Nigeria. The breakthrough was disclosed by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, during a press briefing held at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Intelligence-Led Operation

Ribadu explained that the arrests were the result of an intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operation carried out between May and July 2025, in close collaboration with security and intelligence agencies.

Those arrested include Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, who was identified as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda.

According to Ribadu, Abu Bara’a coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and masterminded numerous high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to fund terrorism. His deputy, Mamuda, was the leader of the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell operating around Kainji National Park and was trained between 2013 and 2015 in Libya under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Long-Standing Wanted Figures

The NSA confirmed that both men had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and were also internationally sought after.

Ribadu outlined a string of attacks linked to the two men, including:

• The 2022 Kuje prison break in Abuja.
• The attack on Niger’s uranium facility.
• The 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp.
• The 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura.
• The abduction of the Emir of Wawa.

He added that the duo maintained active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb region, including networks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

A Major Blow to Ansaru

Ribadu declared that their arrest marked a critical dismantling of Ansaru’s central command structure, describing it as a turning point in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign.

“This targeted operation has effectively dismantled Ansaru’s central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group. Our security forces also recovered a cache of materials and digital evidence, which are undergoing forensic analysis to support ongoing efforts against the network and its foreign collaborators,” he stated.

Citizens Urged to Remain Vigilant

The NSA commended the efforts of Nigeria’s security and intelligence community and urged citizens to remain vigilant by providing timely information to law enforcement agencies.

“This success underscores the importance of collaboration between government, security forces, and the public. We encourage Nigerians to continue to reject extremist ideologies and assist authorities with actionable intelligence to ensure peace and security,” Ribadu added.

With the capture of Abu Bara’a and Mamuda, the Nigerian government has signalled a decisive blow against Ansaru’s influence and operations, reinforcing its resolve to eradicate terrorism from the country and the wider region.

Akahi News http://www.akahinews.org