Nigeria’s war against terror recorded a decisive victory as security forces arrested two of the most wanted commanders of the extremist group, Ansaru—a breakthrough hailed by both local and international partners.
The Chairman of Renewed Hope United Kingdom, Amb. J.K. Adebola, Esq., applauded the courage and professionalism of Nigeria’s security agencies, describing the success as proof of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unshakable commitment to securing the nation.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced the arrests after a high-level briefing by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The United States Embassy in Abuja swiftly lauded the operation, calling it a “significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”
Captured in an intelligence-led counter-terrorism mission carried out between May and July 2025, the suspects include:
Mahmud Muhammad Usman (alias Abu Bara’a) – self-styled Emir of Ansaru and mastermind of kidnappings, sleeper cells, and armed robberies.
Mahmud al-Nigeri (alias Mallam Mamuda) – deputy leader and commander of the deadly Mahmudawa cell spanning Niger, Kwara, and the Benin Republic corridor.
Both men were on Nigeria’s and the international community’s most-wanted lists for orchestrating deadly attacks, including the 2022 Kuje prison jailbreak and the Kaduna-Abuja train ambush.
Security experts say the arrests mark a devastating blow to Ansaru’s network, boosting confidence in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign and reaffirming Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda of protecting lives and property.
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Amb. Adebola stressed: “This milestone proves that the Renewed Hope Administration will not relent until the last vestiges of terror are eliminated from our land. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, our security agencies have shown exceptional courage. Nigerians can be assured—we are winning this fight.”
The swift commendation by the US Mission underscores growing international confidence in Nigeria’s security strides and signals stronger Abuja-Washington cooperation in dismantling extremist threats.
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