US hails Nigeria for capture of Ansaru, Mahmuda leaders
US Commends Nigeria Over Capture of Top Ansaru Terror Leaders
The United States Mission in Nigeria has praised the Federal Government and security agencies for the successful capture of two of the country’s most wanted terrorist leaders, describing the operation as a “major step forward” in the fight against extremism.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the Mission applauded the arrests of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, popularly known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, also called Mallam Mamuda.
“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). This is a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism,” the statement read.
Officials confirmed that the two high-value suspects, long designated by Nigeria and international partners as dangerous militants, were captured between May and July in an intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operation.
At a weekend press briefing, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu disclosed that Abu Bara’a served as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, a faction linked to Al-Qaeda, while Mamuda led a militant cell operating around Kainji National Park along the Niger-Kwara-Benin Republic corridor.
According to Ribadu, the duo masterminded several high-profile crimes, including kidnappings, prison breaks, and attacks on both civilians and security personnel. Their operations included the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, and the 2022 Kuje prison break in Abuja.
Ansaru, formed in 2012 after splitting from Boko Haram, initially presented itself as a “softer” alternative to its parent group. However, it soon pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and went on to establish sleeper cells across northern Nigeria and forest hideouts near the Benin border.
Ribadu described the arrests as a crippling blow to the group’s structure. “This operation has decapitated Ansaru’s leadership, effectively dismantling its central command and paving the way for its complete eradication,” he said.
The US Mission’s endorsement also underscored Washington’s ongoing security cooperation with Nigeria, especially in intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism operations across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. Both Abu Bara’a and Mamuda had been on international wanted lists issued by Nigeria, the United States, Britain, and the United Nations.
Although Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remain active, security experts believe Ansaru’s collapse could significantly weaken the jihadist network in north-western Nigeria.
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