UPDATED: Security agencies capture top Ansaru terror leaders

A joint security efforts by the military, Police, the Department of State Service (DSS) and as well as security and intelligence agencies have led to the capture of top leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, revealed this during a press briefing at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, in Abuja, on Saturday.

According to Ribadu, the terror leaders, Abu Baraa and Mamuda, had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and were responsible for masterminding several terrorist attacks over the past years.

Ribadu said the precision operation that led to the capture of the terrorist leaders followed months (from May to July 2025) of “deep surveillance, human intelligence, and technical tracking, which demonstrates enhanced sophistication and seamless inter-agency synergy.”

He said Abu Bara’a, whose real name is 

Mahmud Muhammad Usman, was the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, and had coordinated various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria, and also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years.

According to the NSA, Mamuda, whose real name is Mahmud al-Nigeri, was Abu Baraa’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy. 

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“He is the leader of the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell hiding out in and around the Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara States up to Benin Republic. 

“Mamuda trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specializing in weapons handling and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) fabrication,” Ribadu said.

The NSA said the two terror leaders had jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. 

He said: “Their operations include the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on the Niger uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, and the May 1, 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba (Magajin Garin Daura). They were also behind the abduction of the Emir of Wawa and they maintain active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

“The two men, who are wanted internationally, are currently in custody.”

Ribadu emphasised the capture of Abu Bara and Mallam Mamuda, the group’s leader and Deputy, marks one of the most significant achievements to date in our ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of the threat of terrorism.

He said: “ The successful decapitation of the leadership of this dangerous franchise marks the most decisive blow against ANSARU since its inception. 

“This stride has effectively dismantled its central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group.”

Ribadu said that security forces captured and recovered valuable actionable intelligence, including a cache of materials and digital evidence which, he said, were all now undergoing forensic analysis. 

According to him, the findings from the analysis were expected to support ongoing efforts to “exploit this success, bring them to justice, and completely annihilate the residual of ANSARU networks and disrupt their foreign collaborators.”

“This feat undoubtedly exemplifies Nigeria’s advancing counter-terrorism capabilities,” Ribadu said. 

The NSA reassured that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not relent in our drive to make Nigeria safe for all citizens.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, urged the citizens to support the government to make the country safer for economic growth and development.

He also urged the media not to be swayed by terrorists propaganda, noting that terrorism drives on publicity.