By Onilede Titi Faith
Nigeria’s fight against terrorism recorded a major breakthrough at the weekend with the arrest of two notorious militant leaders behind several high-profile attacks.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed that the intelligence-led operation led to the capture of Mahmud Muhammad Usman (alias Abu Baraa), self-styled Emir of the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru group, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, leader of the “Mahmudawa” network.
Both men, on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years, have been linked to the 2022 Kuje prison jailbreak, the 2013 abduction of a French engineer, and an attempted assault on a uranium facility. They are also said to have maintained ties with jihadist cells across the Sahel.
In a parallel operation, the Department of State Services (DSS) announced the arrest of Abubakar Abba, leader of Mahmuda, a terror group active in Nigeria’s central region.
Niger State Governor Umaru Bago hailed the success, attributing it to President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, and commended security agencies for ensuring the operation was bloodless.
Authorities disclosed that critical digital intelligence was recovered, which is expected to aid further arrests and the dismantling of remaining terror networks.
NSA Ribadu described Usman’s arrest as “a decisive blow to Ansaru’s command structure”, stressing that it could significantly reduce the group’s operational capacity nationwide.
