The US Mission in Nigeria has commended the Federal Government and security forces for the arrest of two top leaders of the terrorist group, Ansaru. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed the arrests over the weekend, describing the operation as a “high-risk, intelligence-led counter-terrorism mission” carried out between May and July 2025.
hose arrested include Mahmud Muhammad Usman, the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, accused of coordinating terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and masterminding several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to fund the group’s operations. His deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, led the “Mahmudawa” cell, which operated around Kainji National Park, spanning parts of Niger and Kwara states into Benin Republic.
In a post on its official X handle, the US Embassy hailed the operation as a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism, praising the efforts of the government and security forces in dismantling Ansaru’s leadership structure.
Source: https://punchng.com/
