Al-Qaeda Leaders: “A Terrorist Who Surrenders Today May Still Plot Tomorrow,” Commentator Warns
- The arrest of Mahmud Usman and Mahmud al-Nigeri has been likened to Nigeria’s “Bin Laden moment”
- Chiechefulam Ikebuiro, a public affairs commentator, described the silence after the high-profile captures as a missed chance to lift national morale
- In his opinion shared with Legit.ng, he cautioned that terrorists who surrender today may still secretly plot violence in the future
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Lagos, Nigeria — Public affairs commentator and writer, Chiechefulam Ikebuiro, has described the recent arrest of two notorious terrorist leaders in Nigeria as the country’s “Bin Laden moment”.
He, however, lamented that the federal government failed to seize the opportunity to reassure citizens and rally national morale.
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng earlier reported that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced the arrest of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a and identified as the leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru sect, alongside his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, popularly called Mallam Mamuda.
The duo, captured in an intelligence-led operation between May and July, was both on international watchlists for masterminding deadly attacks against civilians, security personnel, and critical national assets.
Reacting to the development, in his opinion, shared with Legit.ng, Ikebuiro drew a striking parallel between Nigeria’s achievement and the US military operation that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in 2011.
“Osama Bin Laden was a case for America. He was a pain in the neck. Their number one enemy. For years, he inflicted terror and grief on the American government and her people,” he said.
“So, when US forces finally captured and killed him, and had him buried at sea, it was not just a military victory — it was a national exorcism.”
Ikebuiro recalled how Americans celebrated openly after President Barack Obama’s announcement, noting that the arrest of Usman and al-Nigeri could have been used in a similar way to lift Nigerian spirits.
“This is Nigeria’s ‘Bin Laden moment.’ Yet, we let it slip past like an evening breeze. No national address. No deliberate attempt to turn this into a morale booster for our people,” he stated.
‘Silence in triumph emboldens terrorists’
The writer insisted that silence in such moments only benefits violent groups still at large.
“A short Presidential broadcast would have sufficed, both to reassure Nigerians and to send a chilling message to the remnants of these terrorists. Silence in moments of triumph only emboldens those hiding in the shadows,” he said.
Source: Twitter
While calling the arrests “a big win,” Ikebuiro cautioned that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is far from over. He argued that security forces must be equipped not only with weapons, but also with “the political will, funding, and intelligence network required to sustain this onslaught.”
He further warned that reported surrenders by some fighters should not be mistaken for total victory.
"Already, reports suggest some of these terrorists are considering surrender. That is good but let us not be naïve."
“The fish may be dead, but its eyes are still watching. A terrorist who lays down his weapon today may still be plotting tomorrow,” he cautioned.
Ikebuiro concluded that true victory would come only when Nigerians can travel across the country without fear.
“Until then, every win must be celebrated, not just for symbolism, but for the psychological warfare it wages against those who dare to terrorize us,” he said.
US commends Nigeria over terrorist arrests
In a related development, Legit.ng reported the US embassy praised Nigeria’s arrest of Ansaru leaders as a significant counter-terrorism achievement.
The embassy said capturing Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Mahmud al-Nigeri marked progress in Nigeria’s fight against extremism and global terrorist threats.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
