BREAKING: FG captures two Ansaru terrorist leaders

The Nation’s Security Agencies comprising the  Military, Police, the Department of State Service , DSS and other  intelligence agencies have arrested the two  most wanted notorious Terrorists  Ansaru leaders, Abu Baraa and Mahmuda.

National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in company of the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS General C G Musa Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the Director General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi,  top Security officials some  members of the Federal Executive Council,disclosed this at a World Press briefing in Abuja  at the National Counter Terrorism Centre on Saturday.

According to Mallam Ribadu, Abu Baraa and Mahmuda were responsible for Kuje prison break and other high profile abduction in North West and North Central of Nigeria.

” 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.

Mallam Ribadu explained that the precision operation that led to the capture of the terrorist leaders, followed months (from May to July 2025) of “deep surveillance, human intelligence, and technical tracking, which demonstrates enhanced sophistication and seamless inter-agency synergy.”

He pointed out that Abu Bara’a, whose real name is Mahmud Muhammad Usman, was the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, and had coordinated various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria, and also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years.

According to the NSA, Mamuda, whose real name is Mahmud al-Nigeri, was Abu Baraa’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, specializing in weapons handling and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) fabrication,” Ribadu said.

The NSA further added that the two terrorist leaders had jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. 

According to him, “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.”

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

According to him “ The successful decapitation of the leadership of this dangerous franchise marks the most decisive blow against ANSARU since its inception. 

“This stride has effectively dismantled its central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group.”

Mallam Ribadu further explained that security forces captured and recovered valuable actionable intelligence, including  a cache of materials and digital evidence which, he said, were all now undergoing forensic analysis. 

According to him, the findings from the analysis were expected to support ongoing efforts to “exploit this success, bring them to justice, and completely annihilate the residual of ANSARU networks and disrupt their foreign collaborators

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“This feat undoubtedly exemplifies Nigeria’s advancing counter-terrorism capabilities,”

The NSA reassured the public that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would  not relent in its drive to make Nigeria safe for all citizens and the foreigners alike 

Also speaking,the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji  Mohammed Idris, urged the citizens to support the government to make the country safer for economic growth and development.

He commended the efforts of the security agencies in. the ongoing total war against insurgency activities in the country 

The Minister who urged the media not to be swayed by terrorists  propaganda, noting that terrorism drives on publicity

 reiterated the commitment of the present administration to rid off the country all criminal elements wherever they might operating in the efforts to boost the nation’s economic development 

TRIBUNEONLINE