Nigeria’s security forces have arrested the most wanted Ansaru terrorist group leaders alleged to have masterminded several high-profile attacks in the country.

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

National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced this at a special press briefing held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Abuja.

Ribadu said Abu Bara coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria 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.

The NSA, in company with all the service chiefs and other heads of intelligence agencies, disclosed that all the security forces have been trailing Baraa since May, before they succeeded in arresting him in July.

Ribadu emphasized that his investigation was crucial due to the group’s deep-rooted presence in Nigeria, which had driven them to actively seek to destabilize the nation through their malicious actions.

“I am pleased to announce that we have successfully completed a high-stakes, intelligence-driven counter-terrorism mission that resulted in the apprehension of the senior leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, widely recognized as ANSARU, the Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria.

“This group was established in January 2012, with its public announcement made in Kano. It emerged as a breakaway faction from Boko Haram, presenting itself as a ‘humane alternative.’

“However, its stated aim quickly turned to attacking Nigerian security operatives, civilian communities and government infrastructure.

“The group publicly displayed the setting sun logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), signaling its ideological and operational alignment with global jihadist movements.

“Over the years, Ansaru entrenched itself in both urban sleeper cells and forest enclaves, across several cities in northern Nigeria and in forest based enclaves, particularly around Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara states as well as Benin Republic.”

Baraa’s arrest marked a major breakthrough nine years after the military captured Ansaru terrorist group leader, Khalid al-Barnawi, in 2016.

Barnawi was one of three Nigerians listed by Washington in 2012 as “specially designated global terrorists”.

Barnawi was one of three Nigerians listed by the United States Department of State in June 2012 as “specially designated global terrorists”. Barnawi was named alongside the late Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and Ansaru founder, Abubakar Adam Kambar.

Al-Barnawi assumed the leadership of Ansaru following the death of Kambar in a military raid on his hideout in Kano in March 2012.

It is not clear whether Baraa had succeeded Al-Barnawi as the leader of the group.