Experts caution as residents, US, UK welcome terror kingpins’ arrests

Mixed reactions have trailed the arrest of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, leader of the Ansaru terrorist group, and Abubakar Abba, leader of the Mahmuda group. While some stakeholders hailed the arrests as a “turning point” in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, others expressed doubts, arguing that unless financiers, arms suppliers, and trainers […]

Mixed reactions have trailed the arrest of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, leader of the Ansaru terrorist group, and Abubakar Abba, leader of the Mahmuda group.

While some stakeholders hailed the arrests as a “turning point” in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, others expressed doubts, arguing that unless financiers, arms suppliers, and trainers of the groups are dismantled, little progress will be achieved.

Residents in affected areas, as well as the governments of the United States and Britain, the Arewa Think Tank, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, commended the Federal Government for the breakthrough.

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced on Saturday that the suspects were captured alive and are in custody.

Ribadu revealed that security forces had trailed Bara’a since May before his eventual capture in July, stressing that the operation was “high-risk” given the group’s deep entrenchment and links to Al-Qaeda.

Formed in 2012 as a Boko Haram splinter group, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) initially portrayed itself as a “humane alternative” before turning to attacks on civilians, security operatives, and infrastructure.

It has since established sleeper cells in northern cities and forest enclaves, especially around Kainji National Park, which straddles Niger and Kwara states, extending into the Benin Republic.

Ribadu linked Ansaru to major atrocities, including the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on Niger’s uranium facility, and the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina.

He also named them as masterminds of the 2019 kidnapping of Magajin Garin Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa.

Ribadu said the arrests mark a major step but Nigeria must remain vigilant as Ansaru maintains active networks across the Maghreb, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

The Mahmuda group had also terrorised several communities in Kebbi and Kwara states.

 

Niger, Kwara, Kaduna residents express mixed feelings

Residents across Niger, Kwara, and Kaduna states — areas where the terrorist groups once operated — have expressed mixed reactions to the arrest of their leaders by security forces.

In Kwara State, residents of Kaiama remained cautious. Silas Hassan, a victim of terrorist attacks, said arrests have done little to improve security.

“Soldiers patrol the town, but once they leave, terrorists regroup in the forest. You cannot dare go farming,” he said.

The village head of Kaiama, Hussein Mohammed, shared similar concerns, saying, “While residents welcome the arrests, the terrorist leaders had already trained hundreds of fighters. The situation is even worse now because the terrorists are no longer friendly with locals,” he said.

For displaced persons in Shiroro LGA, Niger State, the news brought renewed hope.

Yahuza Garba Allawa, an IDP from Allawa Community, described it as a “breath of relief,” noting that even some of the women recently rescued from Allawa forest were captives of the group.

“The arrest is a big victory. We have stayed too long in IDP camps; our homes are in ruins. With this breakthrough, we hope to return soon by God’s grace,” he said.

In Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari, residents expressed relief. Youth leader Baba Isa recalled the anxiety the Ansaru’s presence created.

“We thought they were Boko Haram. Even though they didn’t demand money, we feared their intentions. Truly, we are happy about their arrest,” he said.

 

Fight not yet over — Experts

Security experts have welcomed the arrest of Ansaru and Mahmuda terrorist leaders but cautioned that the fight against insurgency is far from over.

Retired DSS Director Abdulsalam Bolakale Suleiman said the arrests would weaken the groups and reassure citizens, but warned against complacency.

“Security agencies must go beyond arrests to dismantle these groups completely, even if not immediately,” he said.

He also urged the government to revive incentives for intelligence gathering.

“During our service, we had an Information Fund to support informants. Today, motivation is almost non-existent, and porous borders worsen matters. Even 500,000 officers cannot effectively secure just two local governments in Kwara,” he said, stressing the need for a redesigned security architecture.

Detective Auwal Bala Durumin Iya said the arrests reflect improved intelligence use but warned that operatives must now focus on seizing terrorist armouries to reduce their firepower.

“These breakthroughs mean community intelligence is working. But beyond arrests, we must capture their weapons to prevent reprisals,” he said.

Abdullahi Yelwa, a lecturer in Crime Management at Abubakar Tatari Polytechnic, Bauchi, said, “Ansaru’s presence around Kainji threatened both national power supply and agricultural production. Capturing their leaders is a major setback; such groups rely heavily on obedience to leadership. In many cases, once leaders fall, others surrender.”

Dr. Yahuza Getso, a security expert, said, “Previous administrations also made arrests but failed to deliver results. Nigerians now want tangible outcomes. The arrests are commendable, but sustained action is what will restore public confidence.”

 

‘Arrest sponsors, not just fighters’

Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu said the arrests, though commendable, solve only “10 percent” of Nigeria’s security problem.

“The critical issue is not just arresting fighters, but uncovering those who fund and equip them,” he said.

“Boko Haram started over a decade ago. How many financiers have been exposed? These groups display weapons more sophisticated than our soldiers’, so where does the money come from?” he asked.

He said that unless sponsors are identified and prosecuted, terrorist networks would quickly reorganise.

“The more of them you jail, the less the disturbance. But if you keep arresting fighters without touching their backers, there’s no solution,” Ojikutu added.

Retired Major Bashir Galma said the arrests signal a possible decline in terrorist activities.

“There is a sign of positive change, provided the government continues to reveal the identities and profiles of those they capture, just as they did in this case,” he said.

Galma, however, stressed the need to extend security operations to bandits, pointing out the distinction between them and terrorists.

“Terrorists act based on ideology, while bandits kill and kidnap for wealth. Both groups must be tackled simultaneously,” he said.

He warned against limiting counter-terrorism efforts to election periods, alleging that politicians benefit from such groups.

 

US, UK, Arewa Think Tank, editors commend FG

The United States and the United Kingdom on Monday commended the Nigerian government and security agencies for the arrests of wanted Ansaru terror leaders.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the U.S. Mission in Nigeria praised the operation, describing it as “a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”

Similarly, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, hailed the arrests as “an extraordinary and very significant success” and congratulated the security agencies under the leadership of National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The Arewa Think Tank (ATT) also lauded Ribadu and the security forces, calling the arrests one of Nigeria’s most consequential counter-terrorism victories.

In a statement signed by its convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, ATT described the operation as “quiet, deliberate, and intelligence-driven.”

“For the people of Borgu, who lived under Mahmuda’s threat for months, this victory is deeply reassuring,” Yakubu said.

However, he warned that remnants of the group may still be active and urged sustained vigilance. He added that dismantling Mahmuda’s network marked “a decisive blow against insurgency in northern Nigeria.”

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), in a communiqué after its Standing Committee meeting in Owerri, Imo State, urged the authorities to consolidate on the breakthrough by strengthening intelligence gathering, community policing, and partnerships with local stakeholders.

“The arrest of leaders of two militant groups on Nigeria’s most wanted list is a major step in the fight against terrorism,” the communiqué noted.

Beyond security, the Guild expressed concern over challenges in the economy, education, governance, and the media industry.

It warned that ongoing reforms, though necessary, are becoming unbearable for the poor and called for urgent interventions to protect vulnerable citizens.

On education, the NGE decried poor infrastructure and inadequate funding, urging governments to prioritise the sector as a foundation for innovation and economic growth.

The Guild also condemned hostility against journalists by state and non-state actors, cautioning that “a weak media may fail to hold those in power accountable, limit access to information, and create a disconnect between the public and reality.”

 

 

By Idowu Isamotu (Abuja), Ado A. Musa (Jos), Mohammad Ibrahim Yaba (Kaduna), Abubakar Akote (Minna) & Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilorin)