The Federal Government yesterday announced a major breakthrough in the hunt for terrorists across the country with the arrest of two major suspects said to be top members of Al Qaeda affiliated group, Ansaru.
In security net are Mahmud Muhammad Usman, who is better known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, who goes by the alias Mallam Mamuda.
The duo had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and are also internationally sought terrorists, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu said at a press briefing in Abuja.
The NSA said their capture resulted from “a high-risk, intelligence-led counter-terrorism operation” and “marks one of the most decisive blows against Ansaru since its emergence in 2012.”
He vowed that the capture of the suspects “signals the beginning of the end to impunity for terrorist leaders.”
Nigeria, he said, would continue to pursue extremists with precision, resolve and unwavering determination.
“The fight is far from over, but the fall of ANSARU leadership represents a decisive step forward,” he said.
Tracing the origin of the group and the significance of the arrests, the NSA said: “The group was first formed in January 2012 with a public declaration in Kano.
“It emerged as a splinter faction from Boko Haram, positioning 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.”
He said the suspects were responsible for masterminding several terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the past years.
Of Abu Bara’a, the NSA said: “He is the coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years.”
Mamuda was described as Abu Bara’s Chief of Staff and Deputy.
“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, specialising in weapons handling and IED fabrication,” Ribadu said.
Continuing, he said: “These two men have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years.
“They jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces and critical infrastructure.
“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.”
Boko Haram, from which Ansaru broke away, launched its terror campaign in the North East in July 2009.
No fewer than 5,000 lives have been lost to attacks by the group.
“Many others have been maimed while whole towns and villages have been destroyed, precipitating the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, especially old people, women and children, from their homes.”
On the night of April 14, 2014 dozens of Boko Haram fighters invaded Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State and abducted about 276 schoolgirls.
Many of the girls have not been found till today.