The United States of America on Monday reacted to the arrest of two key leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as the Ansaru terrorist group.
The US commended the Nigerian government and its security forces over the unprecedented feat.
The group are known to operate around the Kanji National Park alongside their criminal members.
In a statement issued by the US Mission on its X page, the arrest of Mahmud Muhammad Usman aka Abu Bara’a and Mahmud al-Nigeri aka Mallam Mamuda is evidence of the efforts put in by the Federal Government to end terrorism in Nigeria.
It said, “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,” the US Mission stated.
Recall that the Federal Government had on Sunday announced the arrest of Usman and Al-Nigeri by operatives of the Nigerian security agencies.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, while making the announcement said the wanted terrorists were captured in a “high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation” conducted between May and July 2025.
He said Mahmud Muhammad Usman, identified as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, was the coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across the country.
Ribadu also noted that the captured suspects are the masterminds of numerous high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance the group’s operations.