The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, has announced the arrest of the two top commanders of the ANSARU terror network, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, and its allied Mahmudawa faction.
He said that the two deadly terrorists were captured along with a large cache of digital evidence that are presently being examined to uncover their remaining networks and foreign collaborators.
Ribadu said the arrested terrorists are the group’s self-styled Emir, Mahmud Mohammed Usman a.k.a Abu Baraa, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda.
Ribadu, who stated these on Saturday during a media briefing that was attended by the Minister of Information, Mr Mohammed Idris, Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, DG DSS, DG NIA and Chief of Defence Intelligence, noted that the feat marked a major breakthrough in the nation’s war against terror, adding that the high-risk operation was successfully carried out between May and July 2025.
He said that the operations smashed the core leadership of the dreaded group and ended years of nationwide manhunt.
According to Ribadu; “Abu Baraa coordinated sleeper cells across Nigeria and spearheaded high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to fund terrorism.
“His deputy, Mamuda, led the Mahmudawa cell hiding in the Kainji National Park corridor spanning Niger and Kwara States into Benin Republic.
“Mamuda, who trained in Libya under foreign jihadists from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, is also an expert in explosives and IEDs.
“Both men have long featured on Nigeria’s most-wanted list and are linked to major terror attacks including the 2022 Kuje Prison break, the abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp (2013), the kidnap of Daura kingmaker Musa Umar Uba (2019), the attack on the Niger uranium facility, and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa,” he revealed.
The NSA also said the arrests represented the biggest blow to ANSARU since it broke away from Boko Haram in 2012 and aligned with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
In the words of Ribadu; “This is a decisive step. Their command structure has been dismantled and a clear path opened for the total wipe-out of ANSARU.
While praising the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies for working seamlessly, the NSA urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to share information with security agencies.
