By Amofokhai Williams
The United States has hailed Nigeria’s recent capture of two high-profile Ansaru terrorist leaders as a critical victory in the global fight against terrorism.
In a statement posted on X, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria commended the Nigerian government and its security forces for the successful operation, which resulted in the arrest of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, alias Abu Bara’a, and Abubakar Abba, alias Mahmud al-Nigeri or Mallam Mamuda, between May and July 2025.
“We commend the Nigerian Government and security forces on the successful arrest of wanted #Ansaru leaders… This is a significant forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism,” the U.S. Mission declared, emphasizing the operation’s importance to regional and global security.
The arrests, announced by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu on August 16, 2025, mark a significant disruption of Ansaru, a group linked to al-Qaeda and notorious for terror activities in Nigeria’s northwest.
The U.S. perspective underscores the operation’s alignment with its broader counterterrorism strategy in Africa, which prioritizes intelligence sharing, capacity building, and security cooperation.
“This is a big success in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism,” echoed a post on X by @Abdulfagge, reflecting sentiments that resonate with U.S. priorities in combating extremist networks.
For the U.S., Nigeria’s success is a testament to years of bilateral security partnerships. The operation, described as “targeted” by Ribadu, highlights Nigeria’s growing capacity to counter threats, bolstered by U.S. support through training and intelligence collaboration.
The U.S. Mission’s statement, shared alongside a post by Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman, noted that the arrests represent “a significant step forward” in curbing Ansaru’s influence, a group long targeted by both Nigerian and international authorities, including the U.S. and U.K.
The arrests also reinforce the U.S.’s commitment to stabilizing West Africa, where groups like Ansaru exploit weak governance to expand their reach.
A post on X by @DejiAdesogan framed the operation as a signal that “the fall of Ansaru’s leadership marks the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders in Nigeria,” a sentiment that aligns with U.S. goals of fostering regional stability.
The U.S. sees Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, as a linchpin in countering extremism, and this operation strengthens that partnership.
