The Nigerian military killed two top commanders of the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru group, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), in a counter-terrorism operation between May and July 2025, as announced by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu on August 16, 2025, in Abuja. Ribadu, speaking at a press briefing, clarified that the duo, responsible for the 2022 Kuje prison break and other high-profile attacks, were neutralized, not arrested, dealing a significant blow to Ansaru’s command structure.
Abu Bara’a, Ansaru’s self-styled “Emir,” orchestrated terrorist sleeper cells and financed operations through kidnappings, while Mamuda, his deputy, led the “Mahmudawa” cell around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya from 2013 to 2015. Their operations included the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, and attacks on Niger’s uranium facility. Ribadu stated, “This marks one of the most decisive blows against Ansaru since its inception,” noting that recovered materials and digital evidence are under forensic analysis to disrupt remaining networks. The operation, lauded as a testament to Nigeria’s enhanced counter-terrorism capabilities, involved months of surveillance and inter-agency coordination. The government urged citizens to stay vigilant, emphasizing ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
