In what appears to be a milestone in the fight against terrorism, Nigerian security forces have apprehended the top leadership of Ansaru—Al-Qaeda’s most prominent affiliate in the country—according to National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The successful operation, conducted between May and July 2025, marks a critical turning point in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign and delivers a serious blow to the group’s operational capabilities.
Among those captured are two of Nigeria’s most-wanted terrorists: Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his Chief of Staff, Mahmud al-Nigeri, widely known as Mallam Mamuda. Both had been long sought by national and international security agencies for their roles in orchestrating deadly attacks and financing terrorism.
“The capture of Abu Bara and Mallam Mamuda, the group’s leader and deputy, stands as one of the most significant milestones in our fight against terrorism,” Ribadu announced during a press briefing on Saturday. He described the operation as a “decisive blow” that has effectively dismantled Ansaru’s central leadership.
Abu Bara’a is alleged to have overseen multiple sleeper cells across Nigeria and planned high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to fund terrorist activities. Mamuda, who reportedly received military training in Libya between 2013 and 2015, led a militant cell operating in the Kainji National Park area.
Founded in 2012 as a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, Ansaru—short for Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan (“Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in the Black Lands”)—quickly aligned with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The group expanded its influence through forest hideouts and sleeper cells across northern Nigeria.
The captured commanders are believed to be behind several major terrorist incidents, including:
• The 2022 Kuje prison break
• An attack on a uranium facility in Niger
• The 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina
• The 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, the Magajin Garin Daura
• The abduction of the Emir of Wawa
Authorities say the duo maintained active ties with terrorist networks operating in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
NSA Ribadu highlighted the meticulous nature of the intelligence-led operation, which involved months of surveillance, human intelligence, and technical tracking. He confirmed that security forces recovered vital intelligence materials, including digital evidence, which are now undergoing forensic analysis to aid further counter-terrorism efforts.
“The arrests of Abu Bara and Mamuda mark the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders,” Ribadu declared. “We will continue to pursue those who threaten our peace with precision, resolve, and unwavering commitment.”
He praised the dedication of Nigeria’s armed forces and intelligence community, while calling on the public to stay vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities.
