BREAKING: Nigerian NSA Confirms Arrest Of Two Leaders Of Al-Qaeda-Linked Ansaru Terrorists Group

Nigeria has captured two of the most wanted leaders of the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru terrorists group, in what authorities describe as a major victory against extremism.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, announced on Saturday in Abuja that a months-long intelligence-led operation led to the arrest of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, also called Mallam Mamuda.

Abu Bara’a, identified as the “Emir of Ansaru,” was the coordinator of the group’s sleeper cells across Nigeria and a mastermind of kidnappings and terrorist financing operations.

His deputy, Mamuda, led the notorious “Mahmudawa” faction of Ansaru operating around Kainji National Park, and is believed to have received training in Libya under foreign jihadist instructors.

Ansaru, formally Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, broke away from Boko Haram in 2012 and pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). 

The group gained global notoriety for high-profile attacks, including the 2022 Kuje prison break in Abuja, 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, and cross-border assaults such as the deadly attack on a Niger uranium facility.

Ribadu confirmed that the arrests, carried out between May and July 2025, have effectively dismantled Ansaru’s central command.

He added that caches of materials and digital evidence seized are undergoing forensic analysis and are expected to provide further intelligence on the group’s networks across Nigeria and the Sahel.

The statement read, "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 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."

According to Ribadu, "The targeted operation, which was conducted between May and July 2025, led to the capture of 2 top ANSARU leaders who have been responsible for masterminding several terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the past years: The first is Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of ANSARU. 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.

"The second is Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), Abu Bara’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy. He is the leader of the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell hiding out in and around the Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara States up to Benin Republic. Mamuda trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and IED fabrication.

'These two men have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years. They jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. Their operations include the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on the Niger uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, and the May 1, 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba (Magajin Garin Daura). 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.

"The two men, who are wanted internationally, are currently in custody," he explained. 

Ribadu stated that the capture of Abu Bara and Mallam Mamuda, the group’s leader and deputy commander respectively, marks one of the most significant achievements to date in ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of the threat of terrorism.

He noted that the successful decapitation of the leadership of this dangerous franchise marks the most decisive blow against ANSARU since its inception.

"The stride has effectively dismantled its central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group.

"The feat undoubtedly exemplifies Nigeria’s advancing counter-terrorism capabilities. The precision operation followed months of deep surveillance, human intelligence, and technical tracking, which demonstrates enhanced sophistication and seamless inter-agency synergy.

"Let me use this opportunity to inform the public that, in the course of the operation, our security forces captured and recovered valuable actionable intelligence. These include a cache of materials and digital evidence which are all now undergoing forensic analysis. The findings from the analysis are expected to support our ongoing efforts to exploit this success, bring them to justice, and completely annihilate the residual of ANSARU networks and disrupt their foreign collaborators."

The National Security Adviser furthter explained that the capture of Abu Bara and Mahmuda signalled the beginning of the end to impunity for terrorist leaders.

He said Nigeria would continue to pursue extremists with precision, resolve, and unwavering determination.

The fight is far from over, but the fall of ANSARU leadership represents a decisive step forward, he noted.