The Federal Government has announced the arrest of two senior leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Nigeria.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu disclosed the arrests during a press briefing at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja on Saturday, August 16, 2025. He revealed that the captures were the result of a months-long, intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operation carried out between May and July 2025 in partnership with security and intelligence agencies.
The arrested individuals are Mahmud Muhammad Usman—also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas, or Mukhtar—the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, known as Mallam Mamuda.
According to Ribadu, Abu Bara coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and masterminded high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to finance terrorist activities. His deputy Mamuda led the “Mahmudawa” cell operating around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specializing in weapons handling and IED fabrication.
“The operation led to the capture of two top Ansaru leaders responsible for multiple terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the years,” Ribadu stated. “Abu Bara’a coordinated sleeper cells nationwide and orchestrated kidnappings and robberies that funded terrorism. Mamuda, his Chief of Staff, led a cell around Kainji National Park spanning Niger and Kwara States to Benin Republic and underwent advanced militant training abroad.”
Both men have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and are internationally sought.
Ribadu attributed to the suspects responsibility for several major attacks, including the 2022 Kuje prison break, the assault on Niger’s uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, and the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura. They were also implicated in the abduction of the Emir of Wawa and maintain active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb region, particularly in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
“Their arrest represents a major blow to Ansaru, effectively dismantling its central command,” Ribadu said. “Security forces recovered valuable materials and digital evidence during the operation, which are now undergoing forensic analysis to aid ongoing efforts to bring remaining members to justice and disrupt their foreign networks.”
The NSA urged the public to remain vigilant and report any relevant information to security agencies to support the continued fight against terrorism.
