Nigeria has achieved a significant counterterrorism success with the capture of Mahmud Muhammad Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas, or Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (also known as Mallam Mamuda), his deputy. Both individuals were apprehended in a high-risk, intelligence-led operation conducted between May and July 2025, involving multiple security and intelligence agencies .
Ansaru, a faction that split from Boko Haram in 2012, has been responsible for numerous high-profile attacks in Nigeria. These include the 2022 Kuje prison break, the 2013 assault on a Niger uranium facility, and the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, the Emir of Wawa . The group’s leaders have also maintained active links with terrorist organizations across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu hailed the arrests as a decisive blow to Ansaru, potentially dismantling its central command and paving the way for the group’s complete eradication . The operation also yielded valuable digital evidence, which is currently undergoing forensic analysis and may lead to further arrests.
This development marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and restore security in regions affected by militant activities.