KADUNA: Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has applauded the recent arrest of two notorious terrorist commanders in Northern Nigeria, describing the development as a turning point in the nation’s prolonged battle against violent extremism.
Sani, writing on his official X account on Saturday, noted that the capture of the suspects earlier announced by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu was not only a victory for the country’s armed forces but also a major blow to extremist networks operating across West Africa.
“The arrest of these terror kingpins is a defining stride in the fight against terrorism. These men have unleashed kidnappings, killings, and sought to impose a bloody theocracy.
Their capture sends an unmistakable message to extremist groups that thrive on violence,” the former senator stated.
Ribadu had disclosed that the suspects were apprehended between May and July 2025 during intelligence-driven counter-terrorism raids.
According to the NSA, Abu Bara’a, who styled himself as the Emir of Ansaru, coordinated sleeper cells across Nigeria and orchestrated high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to bankroll extremist operations.
His deputy, Mamuda, who once received militant training in Libya, headed the Mahmudawa” cell operating around Kainji National Park and across Nigeria’s porous borders.
“These individuals have been on our most-wanted list for years,” Ribadu revealed. They masterminded numerous attacks on civilians, security personnel, and critical facilities.
The two men have been directly linked to several deadly incidents, including the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on a uranium facility in Niger, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, the 2019 kidnapping of Magajin Garin Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa.
Ribadu stressed that the arrests represent the most significant dismantling of Ansaru—Nigeria’s al-Qaeda affiliate since its emergence.
“The neutralization of this leadership structure cripples Ansaru’s central command and opens the door for its eventual destruction,” he said, adding that both suspects are also wanted internationally by Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations.
The captured terror leaders are currently in custody, marking what authorities describe as one of the most decisive breakthroughs in Nigeria’s security history.
