TWO senior leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, have been arrested after a month-long counter-terrorism operation.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, announced this on Saturday.
Those arrested are Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, identified as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda.
Ribadu, speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, said the intelligence-led operation was carried out between May and July 2025 in collaboration with security and intelligence agencies.
According to him, Abu Bara coordinated terrorist sleeper cells nationwide and masterminded high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to finance terrorism. His deputy, Mamuda, led the “Mahmudawa” cell around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors.
Ribadu said, “The targeted operation, which was conducted between May and July 2025, led to the capture of two 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.”
The NSA said the two men had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and were also internationally wanted. He linked them to the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on Niger’s uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of French engineer, Francis Collomp, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa.
“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,” Ribadu added.
He stressed that their capture dismantled Ansaru’s central command structure and marked a significant achievement in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, while urging citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely information to authorities.
Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) is a splinter group of Boko Haram that emerged around 2012, pledging allegiance to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
In Nigeria, Ansaru has played a destabilising role by financing terrorism through kidnappings, armed robberies, and links with global jihadist groups.
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.