“NIGERIA’S WAR ON TERROR: NSA RIBADU REVEALS INTEL-DRIVEN ARRESTS OF ANSARU LEADERS”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has announced a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism with the arrest of two top commanders of the Ansaru terror network, an Al-Qaeda affiliate. The suspects, identified as Mahmud Mohammed Usman (Abu Baraa), the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri (Mallam Mamuda), were captured in a high-risk operation conducted between May and July 2025.
Key Details of the Operation:
– Intelligence-Led: The operation was intelligence-driven, involving deep surveillance, human intelligence, and technical tracking.
– Collaborative Effort : The arrest was made possible through seamless collaboration between the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, and other security stakeholders.
– Dismantling Ansaru’s Command : The NSA stated that the capture of Abu Baraa and Mallam Mamuda has dismantled Ansaru’s central command structure, marking a decisive blow to the group.
The Suspects’ Background:
– Abu Baraa: Described as the coordinator of terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria, Abu Baraa masterminded several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism.
– Mallam Mamuda: Trained in Libya under foreign jihadist instructors, Mamuda specialized in weapons handling and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) fabrication .
Impact and Next Steps:
– Major Breakthrough: The NSA considers the arrest a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
– Further Investigation: Valuable materials and digital evidence recovered during the operation are undergoing forensic analysis, expected to generate further actionable intelligence against residual Ansaru cells and their foreign collaborators.
– Public Vigilance: Ribadu urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue sharing information with security agencies to prevent future attacks.
The NSA praised the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies for working “seamlessly” and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing strategic guidance.
He urged Nigerians to stay vigilant and continue sharing information with security agencies.
Present at the briefing were the Minister of Information, Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, DG DSS, DG NIA and Chief of Defence Intelligence.
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