U.S. Embassy Commends FG for Dismantling Two Deadly Terror Groups

The U.S. Embassy has commended the Federal Government for dismantling two terror groups, Ansaru and Mahmuda, following the capture of their leaders: Mahmud Muhammad Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas, or Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (also known as Mallam Mamuda), Abu Bara’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy, who leads a faction known as “Mahmudawa.”

In a statement shared on social media, the Embassy highlighted that these arrests represent a significant advancement in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

“We commend the Nigerian Government and security forces on the successful capture 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.

During a press briefing, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, revealed that the two terrorists, who were on the wanted lists of Nigeria, the U.S., the U.K., and the UN, were apprehended in an operation conducted between May and July 2025.

He explained that their capture was the result of a high-risk, intelligence-led counter-terrorism operation, emphasising that these individuals are leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, which is Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, responsible for orchestrating numerous terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the years.