Abuja: The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, announced a significant achievement by security forces with the capture of two prominent leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group. Ribadu informed reporters in Abuja that the intelligence-led operation, conducted between May and July, effectively dismantled the leadership of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, delivering a decisive blow against them.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the operation was a collaborative effort involving the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and other security stakeholders. It targeted Ansaru enclaves located in and around Kainji National Park, which spans across Niger and Kwara, with connections extending into Benin Republic. Ribadu identified one of the captured suspects as Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, who was the self-proclaimed ‘Emir of Ansaru.’ The second suspect, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Malam Mamuda, served as Bara’s deputy and Chief of Staff. Both individuals had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years.
Abu Bara was recognized as the coordinator of terrorist sleeper cells nationwide and was behind several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies that financed terrorism activities. His deputy, Malam Mamuda, had received training in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specializing in weapons handling and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) fabrication. The NSA noted that the two leaders jointly led multiple terrorist attacks, such as the 2022 Kuje prison break and an attack on a Niger uranium facility. They were also connected to the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba (Magajin Garin Daura), and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa. Additionally, they had ties to Ansaru’s networks across Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
The capture of Abu Bara and Mamuda is seen as a turning point, as it dismantles Ansaru’s central command structure and signals the beginning of the end for terrorist leaders’ impunity in Nigeria. Security forces also recovered valuable materials and digital evidence during the operation, which are now undergoing forensic analysis. These materials are expected to produce further actionable intelligence against remaining Ansaru cells and their foreign collaborators.
Ribadu highlighted that this achievement showcases Nigeria’s advancing counter-terrorism capabilities, following months of deep surveillance, human intelligence, and technical tracking. He commended President Bola Tinubu for providing strategic guidance and praised the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and security services for their determination in achieving success. He reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to sustaining this momentum, emphasizing that the fight against terrorism is ongoing.
Ribadu urged citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies, emphasizing that national security is a shared responsibility. In addition, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, praised the military and other security forces for their collaborative efforts and urged the media to prevent terrorists from using the media to propagate their agenda. He stressed the importance of working together to ensure Nigeria’s safety.