By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria has recorded one of its most significant counter-terrorism successes in recent years with the arrest of two top leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group an Al-Qaeda affiliated network responsible for a string of high-profile attacks and kidnappings across the country.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who announced the development in Abuja on Saturday while briefing journalists, said the suspects were captured during a series of high-risk, intelligence-led operations conducted by Nigeria’s security and intelligence services between May and July 2025.
The arrested men identified as Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri (popularly known as Mallam Mamuda) have been on both national and international terror watchlists. “Today, I am glad to inform you that we have successfully concluded a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation which led to the capture of the top leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate,” the NSA announced.
A Strategic Victory Against a Global Jihadist Network
Formed in January 2012 after splitting from Boko Haram, Ansaru emerged as an attempt to project a more “humane” jihadist ideology. However, the group quickly embraced a violent operational posture, coordinating deadly attacks and mass kidnappings targeting both civilians and security forces. Ribadu recalled that the group publicly adopted the setting sun logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), confirming its ideological and operational links to the global jihadist movement.
Over the years, Ansaru entrenched itself in both urban sleeper cells and remote forest bases, with major enclaves around the Kainji National Park straddling Niger and Kwara States and extending to the Benin Republic. The NSA said the recent operation targeted these networks and decisively neutralised the group’s core leadership structure.
Profiles of the Two Captured Leaders
According to Ribadu, the captured leader, Usman who styles himself as the “Emir of Ansaru” served as the overall coordinator of the group’s nationwide network of terrorist sleeper cells. He is also believed to have masterminded numerous high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies which were used to finance Ansaru’s operations over the past decade.
His deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, described by the NSA as the group’s “Chief of Staff”, leads the so-called Mahmudawa cell operating in and around the dense forest cover of Kainji National Park. Ribadu disclosed that al-Nigeri trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and improvised explosive device (IED) fabrication.
“These two men have jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces and critical national infrastructure. They are currently in custody and will face due legal process,” the NSA said.
Track Record of Violence and Terror
The NSA listed several atrocities directly linked to the two commanders, including:
- the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina State
- the May 1, 2019 kidnapping of Magajin Garin Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar Uba
- the 2022 Kuje Prison jailbreak
- the attack on the Niger uranium facility
- and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa in Niger State.
Ribadu further warned that the men maintained active operational ties with terrorist groups across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, further highlighting the global dimension of the threat they posed.
Call for National Support
Also speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, lauded security forces for the milestone achievement and urged citizens to continue supporting the government in its ongoing efforts to secure the country. He also appealed to the media to resist the propaganda tactics of terrorist organisations, noting that terrorism is fuelled by the spread of fear and sensationalism.
“Our security agencies have recorded a huge victory that brings us closer to our collective goal of a safer and more secure Nigeria. We call on all citizens to unite behind the government and avoid amplifying narratives that embolden violent extremist groups,” he said.
With the successful capture of Ansaru’s top leadership, security analysts say Nigeria has delivered a major blow to a group that once positioned itself as the most sophisticated and internationally connected jihadist outfit in the country. For many Nigerians, the development sends a strong message that the days of impunity for terror masterminds are coming to an end.
