The United States Government has commended Nigeria for capturing two senior members of the terrorist group Ansaru, describing it as a major step in the country’s fight against extremism.
National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu said at a press briefing over the weekend that the two terrorists, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a Abbas Mukhtar) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), were apprehended during an intelligence-led counter-terrorism operation conducted between May and July 2025. Both men have been on the wanted lists of Nigeria, the US, UK, and the UN.
Ribadu described the operation as high-risk and said the men were responsible for masterminding numerous attacks across Nigeria.
He said:”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 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.
“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 our ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of the threat of terrorism. The successful decapitation of the leadership of this dangerous franchise marks the most decisive blow against ANSARU since its inception. This strike has effectively dismantled its central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group.”
Ribadu explained that Ansaru was formed in January 2012 in Kano as a splinter faction from Boko Haram, initially presenting itself as a “humane alternative.” However, it quickly shifted to attacking Nigerian security operatives, civilian communities, and government infrastructure, adopting the setting sun logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to show its ideological alignment.
“Over the years, Ansaru entrenched itself in both urban sleeper cells and forest enclaves across several cities in northern Nigeria and particularly around Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara States, as well as the Benin Republic,”Ribadu added.
In a post on X on Monday, the US Mission in Nigeria said:
“We commend the Nigerian Government and security forces on the successful arrest of wanted #Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda). This is a significant forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”
ThisDay recalled that the US recently approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Nigeria of munitions, precision bombs, precision rockets, and related equipment valued at $346 million, aimed at strengthening the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Michael Olugbode
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