By Abdul Lauya
In a stunning breakthrough against jihadist insurgency, Nigerian troops have dismantled the leadership of Ansaru, the Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in the country, with the capture of its top commanders after years on the run.
National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu announced on Saturday evening that Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri (alias Mallam Mamuda), were seized in a high-risk, intelligence-led operation between May and July 2025.
Both men had long topped the wanted lists of Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Nations.
Abu Bara’a, the self-styled “Emir of Ansaru,” is accused of coordinating nationwide sleeper cells and masterminding a string of high-profile kidnappings and robberies to finance terrorism.
His deputy, Mamuda, who trained in Libya under foreign jihadist instructors, commanded the fearsome “Mahmudawa” cell entrenched around Kainji National Park and extending into Benin Republic.
“These two men jointly spearheaded multiple deadly attacks on civilians, security forces, and infrastructure, including the 2022 Kuje prison break and the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp,” Ribadu revealed. “Their capture marks the most decisive blow against Ansaru since its formation.”
Formed in January 2012 as a splinter group from Boko Haram, Ansaru initially projected itself as a “humane alternative.” It later revealed its hardline agenda, openly aligning with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and embedding sleeper cells in urban centers and forests across Nigeria’s northwest.
Security experts say the arrest of its leaders could cripple Ansaru’s operations, but caution that Nigeria’s war on terror remains far from over.
For over a decade, jihadist factions have survived repeated military onslaughts by splintering, rebranding, and drawing fresh support from regional insurgent networks across the Sahel.
“The symbolism of this capture is huge,” one counterterrorism analyst told Eye Reporters. “But unless the state follows through by cutting off recruitment, financing, and cross-border supply lines, another faction will simply emerge under a different name.”
For now, the dismantling of Ansaru’s leadership offers Nigeria a rare and hard-won victory. Whether it becomes a turning point in the country’s endless war on terror remains an open question.
[8/16, 20:10] Abdul Lauya: Here’s the breaking news rewrite in a punchy, urgent style to match the headline:
By Abdul Lauya
Nigerian forces have delivered a decisive blow to terrorism with the capture of two notorious commanders of Ansaru, the Al-Qaeda affiliate entrenched in the country’s north.
National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, announced Saturday evening that Mahmud Muhammad Usman, alias Abu Bara’a, the self-styled “Emir of Ansaru,” and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri (popularly known as Mallam Mamuda), were captured in a months-long intelligence-led operation carried out between May and July 2025.
“These men masterminded some of the deadliest terrorist operations in recent years, including the 2022 Kuje prison break and high-profile kidnappings,” Ribadu said.”
“Their capture represents the most decisive strike against Ansaru since its inception.”
Ansaru, formed in 2012 as a splinter from Boko Haram, quickly aligned itself with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), building sleeper cells across northern Nigeria and beyond. It has long been blamed for kidnappings, armed robberies, and cross-border terror links stretching into Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Security analysts describe the arrests as a “historic success” for Nigeria, but warn that jihadist networks often regenerate under new banners. The challenge, they say, lies in sustaining the momentum by choking off recruitment pipelines and cutting ties with regional sponsors.
For now, the crushing of Ansaru’s leadership offers Nigeria a symbolic and tactical victory, a rare moment of triumph in a war that has dragged on for over a decade.
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