U.S. Embassy commends Nigerian govt over arrest of wanted Ansaru leaders

By Kunle Sanni –

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has applauded the Nigerian government and security forces for the successful arrest of two wanted Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (also known as Mallam Mamuda).

In a statement posted on its official X account on Monday, the Embassy described the arrests as “a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”

“We commend the Nigerian government and security forces on the successful arrest of wanted #Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda). This is a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism,” the statement read.

At a press briefing on Saturday evening, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said the two terrorists—who were on the wanted list of Nigeria, the U.S., the U.K., and the U.N.—were captured in an operation conducted between May and July 2025.

He explained that the men were apprehended in a high-risk, intelligence-led counter-terrorism operation. They are leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate.

Ribadu added that the two men were responsible for masterminding numerous terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the past years.