Police Nab Wanted Terrorist and Kidnap Kingpin in Akwa Ibom

The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, has arrested a wanted terrorist and kidnap kingpin, Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a. The arrest, a major breakthrough in the nation’s fight against insecurity, occurred between May and July 2025 following a series of intelligence-led counter-terrorism operations.

Usman, identified as the self-styled Emir of the Ansaru terrorist group, had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years. According to authorities, he coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across the country and masterminded numerous high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to finance his extremist activities. His deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, who once trained under foreign jihadist instructors in Libya, was also apprehended.

The arrest of the two terror leaders is a result of a sustained effort by security agencies to dismantle criminal networks. They are believed to be responsible for a number of attacks, including the 2022 Kuje prison break and the kidnapping of a French engineer in 2013. The “Mahmudawa” cell, led by al-Nigeri, operated around the Kainji National Park and across Nigeria’s borders.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has been praised for its commitment to fighting crime, with this latest arrest being a testament to their resolve. The police command, in a previous statement from their Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, has called on the public to continue providing credible information to help rid the state of criminal elements.

This arrest is a significant step towards restoring peace and security in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions and disrupts the criminal activities of a well-organized and internationally linked terrorist group.