Nigeria Arrests 2 high-profile wanted terrorists
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has announced the capture of two wanted terrorist leaders who masterminded several high-profile attacks in the country.
Those arrested were Mahmud Muhammad Usman, alias Abu Barra, and Abubakar Abba, who also bears Mahmud Al-Nigeri and Malam Mamuda. Both are leaders of Ansaru terrorist group linked to Al’Qaeda.
Ribadu announced this at a special press briefing held at the National Counter-Terrorism CenTtre, Abuja.
Ribadu, accompanied by service chiefs and other heads of intelligence agencies, revealed that all the security forces have been trailing Baraa since May, before he was nabbed in July.
“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 group was first formed in January 2012 with a public declaration in Kano. It emerged as a splinter faction from Boko Haram, positioning itself as a ‘humane alternative’.
“However, its stated aim quickly turned to attacking Nigerian security operatives, civilian communities and government infrastructure.
“The group publicly displayed the setting sun logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), signaling its ideological and operational alignment with global jihadist movements.
“Over the years, Ansaru entrenched itself in both urban sleeper cells and forest enclaves, across several cities in northern Nigeria and in forest based enclaves, particularly around Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara states as well as Benin Republic.”
Baraa’s arrest marked a major breakthrough nine years after the military captured Ansaru terrorist group leader, Khalid al-Barnawi, in 2016.
Barnawi was one of three Nigerians listed by the United States Department of State in June 2012 as “specially designated global terrorists”, alongside late Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and Ansaru founder Abubakar Adam Kambar.
Al-Barnawi assumed the leadership of Ansaru following the death of Kambar in a military raid on his hideout in Kano in March 2012.
Abu Bara’a, described as the “Emir of Ansaru,” was the overall coordinator of the group’s sleeper cells across Nigeria and mastermind of several kidnappings and terrorist financing operations.
His deputy, Mamuda, headed the notorious “Mahmudawa” faction of Ansaru based in and around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya under foreign jihadist instructors.
“These two men have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and are also internationally sought terrorists,” Mr Ribadu said. “Their capture marks one of the most decisive blows against Ansaru since its emergence in 2012.”
The group claimed responsibility for high-profile crimes including the 2022 Kuje jail break, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, the abduction of the Emir of Wawa, the deadly attacks on a Niger uranium facility and other cross-border operations.
Ribadu said the arrest of the two Ansaru leaders has effectively dismantled the terrorist group’s central command.
He added that caches of materials and digital evidence recovered during the operation are undergoing forensic analysis, and are expected to yield further intelligence on the group’s networks in Nigeria and the wider Sahel.
“The fall of Ansaru’s leadership signals the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders in Nigeria,” the NSA declared. “We will continue to pursue extremists with precision, resolve, and unwavering determination.”
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to share intelligence with security agencies.
