The United States has lauded the federal government and security agencies for the arrest of two leaders of Ansaru, a terrorist group with links to al-Qaeda.
In an X post on Monday, the US mission in Nigeria said the arrest was “a significant step forward in the country’s fight against terrorism and extremism”.
“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),” reads the post.
“This is a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”
JESNews reports that last week, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu disclosed that Mahmud Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Malam Mamuda), who are on Nigeria’s wanted list, were nabbed following a series of intelligence-led operations between May and July.
Ribadu said Abu Bara’a, the self-proclaimed Emir of Ansaru, coordinated terror sleeper cells across the country and masterminded kidnappings and robberies to finance the group’s operations.
He linked the pair to numerous high-profile attacks, comprising the 2022 Kuje prison break in Abuja that freed dozens of Boko Haram inmates.
