Nigeria’s security operatives have captured the most wanted Ansaru terrorist group leader, Mahmud Muhammad Usman also referred to as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/ Mukhtar, for orchestrating major attacks in the nation.
Disclosing Baraa’s arrest at a special press briefing held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Abuja on Saturday, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu further announced the capture of Mahmuda terrorist group leader, Abubakar Abba.
Ribadu, accompanied by service chiefs and other heads of intelligence agencies, stated that all the security forces have been on the heels of Baraa since May, before he was nabed in July.
“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.
“The targeted operation, which was conducted between May and July 2025, led to the capture of 2 top ANSARU leaders who have been responsible for masterminding several terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the past years.”
According to Ribadu, the two terror group leaders have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years before they were finally nabbed.
While listing some of the atrocities they had committed, Ribadu said that their operations include the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on the Niger uranium facility and the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina.
“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.
“Mahmuda trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specializing in weapons handling and IED fabrication,” added the former Chairman of EFCC.
