By Olayemi Esan, Abuja, August 16, 2025
Nigeria’s decade-long fight against terrorism took a decisive turn this week with the capture of the two most wanted leaders of Ansaru, the Al-Qaeda-linked extremist faction that has terrorized northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries since 2012.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu while briefing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, described the arrests as “one of the most significant achievements since the emergence of Ansaru.”
The two men—Mahmud Muhammad Usman (alias Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), Ansaru’s self-styled “Emir,” and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (alias Mallam Mamuda)—were arrested after a months-long intelligence-led operation that ran from May to July 2025.
“This feat effectively dismantles Ansaru’s central command and paves the way for the complete annihilation of its residual cells,” ONSA officials declared.
The Rise of Ansaru
Ansaru, formally known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, was first unveiled to the world in January 2012 in Kano, emerging as a splinter faction from Boko Haram.
The group initially branded itself as a “humane alternative” to Boko Haram’s indiscriminate violence. Its propaganda painted it as a defender of Muslims against Nigerian security forces. But it quickly revealed its true face: attacks on police, soldiers, civilians, and government installations became its hallmark.
Ansaru soon displayed the setting-sun logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), signaling its allegiance to global jihadist movements. By 2013, security analysts were already describing it as Nigeria’s direct link to Al-Qaeda’s Sahelian networks.
Its base of operations stretched from urban sleeper cells in Kaduna, Kano, and Abuja to forest hideouts around Kainji National Park on the border of Niger and Kwara States, extending into Benin Republic. This geography gave Ansaru strategic access to cross-border smuggling routes and terrorist networks in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Profiles of the Captured Leaders
Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar)
The self-styled “Emir of Ansaru,” Abu Bara’a has long been regarded as the operational brain of the group. He coordinated sleeper cells across multiple Nigerian states, masterminded kidnappings-for-ransom, and used robbery proceeds to fund terror activities.
His leadership combined criminal opportunism with ideological extremism, making him both a financier and an instigator of violence.
Mahmud al-Nigeri (Mallam Mamuda)
Mamuda, Abu Bara’s deputy and proclaimed “Chief of Staff,” was the leader of the notorious “Mahmudawa cell” entrenched in the Kainji forest.
Between 2013 and 2015, he trained in Libya under jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specializing in weapons handling and IED fabrication. This technical expertise turned Ansaru into one of the most dangerous Al-Qaeda franchises in West Africa.
Bloody Trail of Terror
The two men have been linked to some of Nigeria’s most notorious terror incidents:
2013: The abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, which drew global attention.
2019: The kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba (Magajin Garin Daura), a senior traditional ruler in Katsina.
2022: The high-profile Kuje Prison break in Abuja, in which hundreds of detainees, including terror suspects, were freed.
Abduction of the Emir of Wawa in Niger State, a brazen attack on traditional authority.
Attack on a Niger uranium facility, raising international concern about Ansaru’s cross-border reach.
Together, Abu Bara’a and Mamuda also oversaw a wave of highway kidnappings, ambushes on military convoys, and sabotage of critical infrastructure, consolidating Ansaru’s reputation as a major threat to Nigeria’s internal security.
The Operation That Ended Their Reign
According to the NSA, the arrests were the result of months of deep surveillance, blending human intelligence with advanced technical tracking. The operation involved seamless coordination between the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement units.
“The precision of this operation reflects Nigeria’s advancing counter-terrorism capabilities,” NSA said.
During raids on Ansaru’s enclaves, security forces seized caches of arms, communication devices, and sensitive documents. These materials, now undergoing forensic analysis, are expected to yield further intelligence on Ansaru’s networks and its international collaborators
Why This Matters
Security analysts say the capture of Ansaru’s top leadership is as significant as the military gains against Boko Haram in the northeast.
“Decapitating the leadership of Ansaru is a crippling blow. Terror groups often survive setbacks in the field, but when their central command collapses, their ability to coordinate large-scale operations is severely weakened,” said a senior counter-terrorism researcher in Abuja.
The arrests also highlight Nigeria’s progress in inter-agency collaboration—a weakness often cited in past counter-terrorism failures.
Government’s Position
At the press briefing, NSA stressed that the arrests signaled “the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was commended for providing “strategic guidance and support in all ramifications,” while the Armed Forces and intelligence services were praised for their doggedness and synergy.
“The fight is far from over,” NSA cautioned, “but the fall of Ansaru leadership represents a decisive step forward.”
The government also appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and to volunteer timely information to security agencies. “National security is a shared responsibility,” the NSA reminded
The Road Ahead
While the capture of Abu Bara’a and Mamuda represents a breakthrough, officials acknowledge that splinter cells and foreign links may attempt to regroup.
Analysts warn that foreign jihadist groups in Mali and Burkina Faso could attempt to reabsorb Ansaru fighters or redirect them to new fronts. The challenge for Nigeria will be to sustain pressure on these networks while addressing the socio-economic conditions that fuel recruitment.
For now, however, Abuja is celebrating what many are calling the most decisive victory against terrorism since 2012.
“This moment marks a turning point,” NSA concluded. “The Nigerian people can be assured: we will not relent until terrorism is stamped out completely from our land.”