The United States Government has applauded Nigeria for the successful capture of two high-profile leaders of the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru terrorist group.

In a statement released via its official X handle on Monday, the US Mission in Nigeria described the arrests as a “significant step forward” in the country’s ongoing fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

This comes after National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, announced over the weekend that security forces, acting on months of intelligence gathering, apprehended Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, popularly called Mallam Mamuda.

Abu Bara’a, regarded as the “Emir of Ansaru,” was said to be the group’s overall coordinator, running sleeper cells across Nigeria and masterminding numerous kidnappings and terrorist financing operations. His deputy, Mamuda, controlled the feared “Mahmudawa” faction of Ansaru based around Kainji National Park and reportedly received advanced training in Libya under foreign jihadist instructors.

Ansaru, formally Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, emerged in 2012 after breaking away from Boko Haram. The group pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and has since been linked to a series of deadly operations, including the 2022 Kuje prison break in Abuja, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, the abduction of the Emir of Wawa, and coordinated attacks on Niger’s uranium facility.

Reacting to the arrests, the US Mission 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 step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”