Nigerian security forces have successfully apprehended the most wanted leader of the Ansaru terrorist group, Abu Baraa, who is believed to be the mastermind behind a number of high-profile attacks in the country. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts across Nigeria.
The breakthrough was announced by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, during a special press briefing at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja on Saturday. Flanked by senior military and intelligence officials, Ribadu confirmed that security operatives had been tracking Baraa since May before he was finally captured in July.
“I am glad to inform you that we have successfully concluded a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation which led to the capture of the top leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate,” Ribadu stated.
The NSA explained that the pursuit of Baraa became a top priority due to the increasing presence and influence of the Ansaru group within the country.
Ansaru first emerged in January 2012 with a public declaration in Kano. It was initially formed as a splinter faction from the Boko Haram terrorist group, presenting itself as a “humane alternative” to Boko Haram’s indiscriminate violence. However, its stated mission quickly devolved into targeted attacks on Nigerian security operatives, civilian communities, and government infrastructure.
Ribadu highlighted the group’s clear ideological and operational ties to global jihadist movements, noting that Ansaru publicly displayed the setting sun logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Over the years, the group has established itself in both urban “sleeper cells” and forest enclaves across northern Nigeria, with a significant presence around Kainji National Park in Niger and Kwara states, as well as in the Benin Republic.
