FG Captures Kuje Prison Break Masterminds, Top Al-Qaeda-Linked Leaders

The Federal Government has announced the arrest of two senior leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, in what officials describe as a major breakthrough in the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.

National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed the arrests on Saturday during a press briefing in Abuja. He said the suspects — **Mahmud Muhammad Usman**, also known as *Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar*, and **Mahmud al-Nigeri**, also known as *Mallam Mamuda* — were captured in a series of intelligence-led operations conducted between May and July 2025.

According to Ribadu, Abu Bara served as the group’s self-proclaimed Emir and coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He was also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to fund terror activities. His deputy, Mamuda, led the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell around Kainji National Park and previously trained under foreign jihadist instructors in Libya between 2013 and 2015.

“These men have been responsible for some of the most notorious terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s recent history,” Ribadu said. “Their arrest represents a significant victory for our security forces.”

Authorities link the suspects to the **2022 Kuje prison break**, the attack on Niger’s uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of French engineer **Francis Collomp**, the 2019 kidnapping of **Alhaji Musa Umar Uba**, and the abduction of the **Emir of Wawa**.

Ribadu noted that both men had long been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list and were also internationally wanted for terrorism. He added that their capture has effectively dismantled Ansaru’s central command structure.

Security forces also recovered a cache of materials and digital evidence during the operation, which are currently undergoing forensic analysis. Ribadu said the findings will aid ongoing efforts to dismantle the remaining Ansaru networks and disrupt their foreign collaborators across the Sahel.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely information.