Nigeria’s long and often harrowing battle against terrorism took a dramatic turn over the weekend, as security agencies announced the capture of two of the country’s most wanted militant leaders. On Saturday, August 16, 2025, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu revealed that Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known by his aliases Abu Bara’a, Abbas, and Mukhtar—the notorious head of the Ansaru terrorist group—was arrested alongside Mahmud al-Nigeri (also identified as Abubakar Abba), leader of the Mahmuda group. The announcement, delivered at a news conference in Abuja, quickly sent ripples through communities long plagued by these groups, as well as among international partners and security experts.
According to reporting from Daily Trust, security forces had been hot on Bara’a’s trail since May, finally apprehending him in July after a high-risk operation. The operation’s complexity stemmed from Ansaru’s deep entrenchment in northern Nigeria and its connections to al-Qaida. Ribadu emphasized that the suspects were captured alive and are now in custody, marking what many see as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Ansaru, formally known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, splintered from Boko Haram in 2012. Initially, the group attempted to present itself as a “humane alternative,” but it soon became infamous for brutal attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. The group has since established sleeper cells across northern cities and forest enclaves, with a notable presence around Kainji National Park—an area straddling Niger and Kwara states and extending into Benin Republic. Ribadu detailed the group’s involvement in high-profile atrocities, including the 2022 Kuje prison break, an attack on Niger’s uranium facility, and the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina. Ansaru was also behind the 2019 kidnapping of Magajin Garin Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa.
The Mahmuda group, though less internationally known, has terrorized communities in Kebbi and Kwara states, according to Daily Trust. Their influence has left a trail of fear and displacement, particularly in rural areas where security is often stretched thin.
The reaction from affected communities was immediate and mixed. In Kwara State’s Kaiama, residents expressed deep skepticism. Silas Hassan, a victim of terrorist attacks, voiced the prevailing anxiety: “Soldiers patrol the town, but once they leave, terrorists regroup in the forest. You cannot dare go farming.” The village head, Hussein Mohammed, echoed these concerns, noting, “While residents welcome the arrests, the terrorist leaders had already trained hundreds of fighters. The situation is even worse now because the terrorists are no longer friendly with locals.”
Yet, for many in Niger State, the news brought a glimmer of hope. Yahuza Garba Allawa, an internally displaced person from Allawa Community, described the arrests as a “breath of relief.” He added, “The arrest is a big victory. We have stayed too long in IDP camps; our homes are in ruins. With this breakthrough, we hope to return soon by God’s grace.” In Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari, youth leader Baba Isa recalled the anxiety the Ansaru presence had created: “We thought they were Boko Haram. Even though they didn’t demand money, we feared their intentions. Truly, we are happy about their arrest.”
Security experts have largely welcomed the arrests but caution that the fight is far from over. Retired DSS Director Abdulsalam Bolakale Suleiman told Daily Trust that while the arrests would weaken the groups and reassure citizens, security agencies must “go beyond arrests to dismantle these groups completely, even if not immediately.” He highlighted the need for robust intelligence gathering, lamenting the decline of incentives for informants and pointing to porous borders as a persistent challenge. “Even 500,000 officers cannot effectively secure just two local governments in Kwara,” he said, underscoring the need for a redesigned security architecture.
Detective Auwal Bala Durumin Iya noted that the arrests reflect improved intelligence use but warned, “These breakthroughs mean community intelligence is working. But beyond arrests, we must capture their weapons to prevent reprisals.” Abdullahi Yelwa, a lecturer at Abubakar Tatari Polytechnic, Bauchi, observed that Ansaru’s presence around Kainji threatened both national power supply and agricultural production, calling the leader’s capture a major setback for the group. “Such groups rely heavily on obedience to leadership. In many cases, once leaders fall, others surrender,” he said.
Yet, the need for broader action remains a recurring theme. Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu argued that the arrests solve only “10 percent” of Nigeria’s security problem. “The critical issue is not just arresting fighters, but uncovering those who fund and equip them,” he said. “Boko Haram started over a decade ago. How many financiers have been exposed? These groups display weapons more sophisticated than our soldiers’, so where does the money come from?” Unless sponsors are identified and prosecuted, Ojikutu warned, terrorist networks could quickly regroup and reorganize. “The more of them you jail, the less the disturbance. But if you keep arresting fighters without touching their backers, there’s no solution.”
Retired Major Bashir Galma suggested that the arrests could signal a possible decline in terrorist activities, provided the government continues to reveal the identities and profiles of those captured. He stressed, however, that security operations must also target bandits, who, unlike terrorists, are motivated by profit rather than ideology. “Both groups must be tackled simultaneously,” he said, warning against limiting counter-terrorism efforts to election cycles.
International reaction was swift and supportive. On Monday, August 18, 2025, the United States Mission in Nigeria praised the operation, stating, “We commend the Nigerian Government and security forces on the successful arrest of wanted #Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Mahmud al-Nigeri.” The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, called the arrests “an extraordinary and very significant success,” congratulating the security agencies under Ribadu’s leadership. The Arewa Think Tank also lauded the operation as “quiet, deliberate, and intelligence-driven,” with its convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, noting that for the people of Borgu, “this victory is deeply reassuring.”
The Nigerian Guild of Editors, in a communiqué following its meeting in Owerri, Imo State, urged the authorities to build on this breakthrough by strengthening intelligence gathering, community policing, and partnerships with local stakeholders. “The arrest of leaders of two militant groups on Nigeria’s most wanted list is a major step in the fight against terrorism,” the Guild stated. However, they also highlighted ongoing challenges in the economy, education, governance, and the media industry, warning that reforms must not come at the expense of the poor and vulnerable. The Guild further condemned hostility against journalists, cautioning that “a weak media may fail to hold those in power accountable, limit access to information, and create a disconnect between the public and reality.”
While the arrests of Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Mahmud al-Nigeri represent a critical step forward, the path to lasting peace and security in Nigeria remains fraught with complexity. The coming months will test whether this breakthrough can be leveraged into a broader, more sustainable victory against terror—and whether the root causes and enablers of extremism can finally be addressed.
