NSA Announces Arrest of Ansaru Terror Group Leaders, Abu Baraa, Mahmuda, in Major Counterterrorism Breakthrough 

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has confirmed the arrest of two high-ranking leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, marking a significant victory in the country’s counterterrorism efforts.

At a press briefing attended by top security officials—including the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police, and Minister of Information—Ribadu identified the suspects as Abu Baraa, the self-styled “Emir” of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmuda.

The duo, long on Nigeria’s most-wanted list, were allegedly behind multiple terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and armed robberies used to fund their operations.

Abu Baraa (also known as Mahmud Muhammad Usman) was described as the coordinator of sleeper cells nationwide, while Mahmuda (Mahmud al-Nigeri) served as his chief of staff and led a terrorist cell operating around Kainji National Park, spanning Niger, Kwara, and Benin Republic.

Ribadu linked the suspects to high-profile crimes, including the 2022 Kuje prison break, an attack on a Niger uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of a French engineer in Katsina, and the 2019 kidnapping of Magajin Garin Daura.

They were also implicated in the abduction of the Emir of Wawa and maintained ties with jihadist groups in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

The NSA hailed the arrests as a decisive blow against Ansaru, effectively dismantling its leadership and disrupting its operations.

The group, which emerged in 2012 as a Boko Haram splinter faction, later aligned with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), targeting security forces, civilians, and government infrastructure.

Ribadu emphasized that the capture signals progress in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, paving the way for the group’s eventual eradication.

Both suspects are now in custody, facing further investigation.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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