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Abu Baraa, the self-styled "Emir" of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmuda

U.S. Commends Nigeria for Arresting Top Ansaru Terror Leaders in Major Counterterrorism Win

By Dele Fashomi 2 weeks ago

The United States government has praised Nigeria for the successful arrest of high-ranking leaders of the terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru). In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria hailed the operation as “a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”

The recognition follows an announcement by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, revealing that Mahmud Muhammad Usman (alias Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (alias Mallam Mamuda) were apprehended in a targeted counterterrorism operation conducted between May and July. Ribadu confirmed that both individuals were key leaders of Ansaru, a group tied to numerous terrorist attacks in northern Nigeria.

Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, earlier celebrated the arrests as a “significant breakthrough in the war against terrorism.” The U.S. government echoed this sentiment, sharing Onanuga’s post and commending Nigerian security forces for their effective operation.

“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 U.S. statement read.

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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