The United States has commended the Nigerian government and its security forces following the arrest of two high-profile terrorists linked to the al-Qaeda affiliated group, Ansaru.
- The U.S. commended Nigeria for arresting two Ansaru leaders tied to al-Qaeda.
- The arrests are considered progress in combating terrorism and contributing to regional stability.
- U.S.-Nigeria collaboration remains crucial to countering extremist threats effectively.
Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda) were captured in a coordinated security operation, a move Washington described as a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria emphasized that the arrests reflect the country’s growing capacity to counter extremist networks while contributing to broader regional stability.
The mission stated, “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 forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”
Washington’s praise for Nigeria aligns with its wider counterterrorism strategy across Africa. Since the early 2000s, the United States has prioritized combating al-Qaeda and its affiliates on the continent, providing intelligence support, training, and security cooperation to African nations facing jihadist threats.
By neutralizing Ansaru’s leadership, Nigeria has struck a meaningful blow against al-Qaeda’s influence in West Africa, complementing U.S. efforts to prevent the spread of extremism and protect regional stability.
Tracing Ansaru’s past threats
Ansaru, formally known as Jamaat al-Ansar al-Muslimeen fi Bilad al-Sudan, resurfaced in Nigeria in 2020 after nearly seven years of dormancy.
The group, which is aligned with al-Qaeda, re-emerged dramatically on January 15, 2020, when it claimed responsibility for an ambush that killed six Nigerian soldiers escorting the Emir of Potiskum in Kaduna State.
This marked Ansaru’s first claimed attack in Nigeria since 2013 and signaled its renewed operational presence, particularly in northwestern Nigeria.
Following this, Ansaru claimed three additional attacks between February and August 2020, using al-Qaeda-linked propaganda channels such as al-Hijrah to broadcast its activities and signal its return to the global jihadist movement.
According to the Nigerian government, these two men have been on the country’s most-wanted list for years.
They jointly orchestrated multiple attacks targeting civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. Their operations include the 2022 Kuje prison break, the assault 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).
Although its resurgence was still tentative, the group sought to exploit Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape, especially the widespread banditry in the northwest, the communal violence between Fulani herders and farmers, and the broader spread of jihadist violence across the Sahel.
These conditions provided Ansaru and, by extension, al-Qaeda, new opportunities to reassert influence and expand their networks in Nigeria.
However, the recent arrest of Ansaru’s top leaders by Nigerian security forces marks a significant blow to the group, demonstrating the government’s growing capacity to counter extremism and restore stability in the region.
