Al-Qaeda affiliate Two leaders arrested in Nigeria

Two top leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, have been arrested by the security agents.

Those arrested are Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, identified as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who disclosed this at a press briefing held at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja on Saturday, said the suspected terrorists were arrested following a months-long counter-terrorism operation.

He said the intelligence-led operation was carried out between May and July 2025 in collaboration with security and intelligence agencies.

According to Ribadu, Abu Bara coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across the country and masterminded high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to finance terrorism.

He added that his deputy, Mamuda, led the “Mahmudawa” cell around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors.