The Federal Government on Saturday confirmed the arrest of two top leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, ANSARU, an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Nigeria.
The announcement was made by the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, at a press briefing in Abuja.
According to Ribadu, the intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operation was conducted between May and July 2025 with the collaboration of several security and intelligence agencies.
He described the arrests as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s long-standing fight against terrorism.
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Those arrested are Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, who has been identified as the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda.
Ribadu explained that Abu Bara’a coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and had been responsible for several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to finance terrorist operations.
“He is the coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years,” Ribadu said.
He added that Mamuda, the deputy leader, commanded the “Mahmudawa” cell operating in and around the Kainji National Park and had received training in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria.
“Mamuda specialised in weapons handling and IED fabrication,” the NSA revealed.
The NSA said both men had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and were also listed as internationally wanted terrorists.
Their activities, he noted, extended beyond Nigeria’s borders and posed a regional security threat.
“They were also behind the abduction of the Emir of Wawa and they maintain active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso,” Ribadu said.
He further confirmed that the two masterminded the 2022 Kuje prison break in Abuja, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, and the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura.
They were also linked to an attack on Niger’s uranium facility.
Ribadu declared that the arrests had dismantled the central command of ANSARU.
“This strike has effectively dismantled its central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group,” he stated.
He disclosed that during the course of the operation, security forces recovered a cache of materials and digital evidence.
These, he said, were undergoing forensic analysis to provide actionable intelligence for further operations.
“The findings from the analysis are expected to support our ongoing efforts to exploit this success, bring them to justice, and completely annihilate the remnants of ANSARU networks and disrupt their foreign collaborators,” Ribadu added.
The NSA praised the collaboration between Nigerian security agencies and international partners, noting that it was crucial to the success of the operation.
He called for sustained vigilance to ensure that other terrorist networks do not regroup.
He urged Nigerians to remain alert and provide timely information to security agencies.
“We call on citizens to be vigilant and share intelligence with authorities. This cooperation is critical to sustaining peace and security,” Ribadu stressed.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to strengthening counter-terrorism efforts and working with neighbouring countries to curb cross-border threats.
Ribadu emphasised that the arrests marked only a step in an ongoing campaign to eradicate extremist groups.
The two men are currently in custody and are expected to face prosecution after ongoing investigations and analysis of the seized materials are concluded.
The government assured that due process would be followed while ensuring justice for victims of their crimes.
