The Federal Government has announced the arrest of two senior leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, following a months-long intelligence-led counter-terrorism operation.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, confirming that the operation, conducted between May and July 2025, was executed in collaboration with multiple security and intelligence agencies.
Those apprehended include Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, identified as the self-styled “Emir” of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also called Mallam Mamuda.
Ribadu described Abu Bara as the coordinator of terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria, with a track record of masterminding high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to finance terrorism.
His deputy, Mamuda, was said to have trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors and led the notorious “Mahmudawa” cell around Kainji National Park.
“This targeted operation led to the capture of two top Ansaru leaders who have been responsible for orchestrating several terrorist attacks in Nigeria over the years,” Ribadu said.
According to the NSA, both men had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and were also internationally sought after for their roles in cross-border terror operations.
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Their crimes include involvement in the 2022 Kuje prison break, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa.
They were also linked to the attack on Niger’s uranium facility and maintained active networks with extremist groups across the Sahel and Maghreb regions, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Ribadu confirmed that their arrest represents a major blow to Ansaru’s central command structure, noting that security forces recovered a cache of materials and digital evidence during the raid. The items are undergoing forensic analysis to extract further intelligence.
“This strike has effectively dismantled Ansaru’s central command and paves the way for the complete annihilation of the group,” Ribadu stated, urging citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies.
The NSA stressed that the arrests mark a turning point in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism fight and pledged that authorities would pursue the remnants of Ansaru networks and their foreign collaborators.