Breaking: FG Arrests 2 Deadly Al-Qaeda Leaders, Masterminds of Kuje Prison Break, Details Emerge
- FG has announced the arrest of two top Ansaru/Al-Qaeda leaders behind major terror attacks, including the Kuje prison break
- Suspects Abu Bara’a and Mahmud al-Nigeri coordinated sleeper cells, kidnappings, and foreign-linked jihadist training
- NSA Nuhu Ribadu said the arrests dismantle Ansaru’s central command and mark a major counter-terrorism breakthrough
FCT, Abuja - The Federal Government has announced the arrest of two top leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Nigeria.
The arrests, which followed a months-long counter-terrorism operation, were disclosed on Saturday, August 16, by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, during a press briefing at his office in Abuja.
Source: Twitter
According to Ribadu, the intelligence-led operation was carried out between May and July 2025 in collaboration with security and intelligence agencies.
Those arrested and their roles
The suspects were identified as Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, described as the “self-styled Emir” of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda.
Ribadu revealed that Abu Bara coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and masterminded high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to fund extremist operations.
“Abu Bara is the coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years,” Ribadu said.
On his deputy, Ribadu stated:
“The second is Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda. He led the so-called ‘Mahmudawa’ cell around Kainji National Park. He trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and IED fabrication.”
Involvement in major attacks
The NSA disclosed that both men had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for several years and were also internationally wanted, Premium Times.
He linked them to several high-profile terror attacks, including the 2022 Kuje prison break, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, and the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura.
“They were also behind the abduction of the Emir of Wawa, and they maintained active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso,” Ribadu said.
Operation dismantles Ansaru command
Source: Twitter
Ribadu stressed that the arrest of the two men marked a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism., Punch reported.
“This strike has effectively dismantled Ansaru’s central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group,” he said.
He also confirmed that security forces recovered a cache of materials and digital evidence during the operation, which are now undergoing forensic analysis.
“The findings from the analysis are expected to support our ongoing efforts to exploit this success, bring them to justice, and completely disrupt the remnants of Ansaru’s networks and their foreign collaborators,” Ribadu added.
Citizens urged to remain vigilant
The NSA called on Nigerians to remain alert and provide timely information to security authorities.
“Every citizen has a role to play in safeguarding our country. Vigilance and cooperation with security agencies are crucial to preventing future attacks,” he said.
Military breaks silence on over 1000 killed in southeast
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the Defence Headquarters has rejected allegations by Amnesty International that Nigerian troops were involved in the extrajudicial killing of 1,844 people in the South-East between January 2021 and June 2023.
In a report released on Thursday, August 14, titled A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in Southeast Nigeria, Amnesty International accused the Nigerian authorities of enabling a “free-for-all reign of impunity” in the region.
Source: Legit.ng
