Security officials have confirmed the arrest of two of the world’s most wanted terrorists, marking what authorities describe as a major breakthrough in the fight against insurgency.
The suspects, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (alias Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (alias Mallam Mamuda), are senior commanders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-linked terror faction that splintered from Boko Haram in 2012.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced the arrests in Abuja, calling it “one of the most decisive blows against Ansaru since its creation.”
Profiles of the Suspects
- Abu Bara’a – identified as the mastermind of several kidnappings, armed robberies, and coordinator of Ansaru sleeper cells across Nigeria.
- Mallam Mamuda – regarded as his deputy and “chief of staff,” trained in Libya in weapons and explosives, and leader of the “Mahmudawa” terror cell near Kainji National Park.
Attributed Crimes
Authorities link the men to several high-profile terror attacks, including:
- The 2022 Kuje prison break.
- The attack on Niger’s uranium facility.
- The 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp.
- The 2019 kidnapping of Magajin Garin Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar Uba.
- The abduction of the Emir of Wawa.
Both suspects are also believed to have maintained operational ties with Al-Qaeda affiliates in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Ribadu said their capture “signals the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders in Nigeria.”
With Ansaru and Boko Haram responsible for thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands across West Africa, analysts say the arrests mark a turning point in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.