Nigeria's ex-president Buhari dies aged 82
Buhari died in London where he was receiving medical treatment in recent weeks. He was the first president to defeat a sitting president when he was elected in 2015, overseeing the country's worst economic period and fight against insurgency.
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Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nigeria arrests leaders of terror group accused of 2022 jailbreak
Nigerian officials said Saturday they had arrested the alleged leaders of a jihadist group behind a 2022 jailbreak in the capital Abuja that temporarily freed hundreds of inmates. Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, told journalists that Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Mahmud al-Nigeri had been captured during a "targeted operation... between May and July". He said they were the leaders of Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan -- commonly known as Ansaru. "These two men have been on Nigeria's most-wanted list for years" and were also on international wanted lists, said Ribadu. "They jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure," he added. In a brazen raid in July 2022, jihadists used guns and explosives to blast their way into a prison on the outskirts of Abuja, freeing dozens of inmates. Ansaru subsequently claimed responsibility. The arrests mark a breakthrough in the West African nation's decade-and-half long battle against jihadists in the northeast -- and, more recently, against criminal gangs behind kidnappings for ransom in central and northwestern regions. Ribadu said Usman and al-Nigeri had been involved in several high-profile kidnappings in the regions. The Boko Haram splinter group was formed in 2012, later aligning itself with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The United States designated the group alongside Boko Haram as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" in 2013. "The capture of Abu Bara and Mallam Mamuda, the group's leader and deputy commander respectively, marks one of the most significant achievements to date in our ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of the threat of terrorism," Ribadu added. - Jailbreaks and kidnappings - Ansaru broke away from Boko Haram in 2012, setting up its base in Kano. Its members, many of them Western-educated, rejected Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau for being too extreme. But the group has since adopted the same violence it initially denounced in Boko Haram. The United States said the group kidnapped and executed seven international construction workers in 2013. According to Ribadu, Usman and al-Nigeria masterminded several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies, using the proceeds to "finance terrorism over the years". Several hundred inmates were freed before being recaptured by security forces in July 2022 when Ansaru attacked the Kuje medium-security prison just 40 kilometres (25 miles) away from the capital and the Aso Rock presidential villa. In 2012, the group raided a police station in the capital city, killed police officers and freed detainees from prison. tba-abu/sn/jj
Washington Post
25 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Nigeria says it has arrested 2 militant leaders on its most wanted list
LAGOS, Nigeria — The leaders of two militant groups on Nigeria 's most wanted list have been arrested in an operation involving multiple agencies, the West African country's national security adviser said Saturday. The two leaders were allegedly the heads of Ansaru, an al-Qaida -linked group, and Mahmuda, a relatively new and lesser-known militant group. Mahmuda gained national prominence after a string of attacks earlier this year in the country's north-central region.
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Nigeria says it has arrested 2 militant leaders on its most wanted list
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The leaders of two militant groups on Nigeria 's most wanted list have been arrested in an operation involving multiple agencies, the West African country's national security adviser said Saturday. The two leaders were allegedly the heads of Ansaru, an al-Qaida -linked group, and Mahmuda, a relatively new and lesser-known militant group. Mahmuda gained national prominence after a string of attacks earlier this year in the country's north-central region. Nigeria's northern region is home to numerous armed groups. Officials said the arrests came in an operation conducted between May and July and that they recovered valuable materials including digital evidence that is undergoing forensic analysis and could lead to more arrests. The arrested leaders are Mahmud Muhammad Usman of Ansaru and Mahmud al-Nigeri of the Mahmuda group. Both men are also wanted internationally, according to Nuhu Ribadu, the security adviser. 'These two men have been on Nigeria's most-wanted list for years. They jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces and critical infrastructure,' Ribadu said at a news conference. He said the arrested leaders are responsible for the Kuje prison attack in 2022 that led to the escape of dozens of jailed Boko Haram members and an attack on the Niger uranium facility in 2013, among others. Ribadu said they maintain 'active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.' Nigeria faces a complex, multidimensional security challenge with various armed groups operating across the country. On one side are religiously motivated groups, including 16-year-old Boko Haram and its splinter factions like Ansaru and the Islamic State West Africa Province. On the other are amorphous groups specializing in kidnapping for ransom and looting and commonly referred to as bandits. Sometimes, their activities overlap. Despite military assaults on the groups, they have continued to expand their operations and carry out routine attacks. This year, Boko Haram has mounted a major resurgence. The U.S. government on Wednesday approved the sale of $346 million in arms to bolster Nigeria's fight against insurgency and criminal groups. 'The successful decapitation of the leadership of this dangerous franchise marks the most decisive blow against ANSARU since its inception. This strike has effectively dismantled its central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group,' Ribadu said. Oluwole Ojewale, a Dakar-based security analyst at the Institute of Security Studies, says the significant arrest will test the resilience of Ansaru and its capacity to spring surprises or mount major attacks in the immediate term. 'The impacts of this arrest on the terrorist groups depend on what the Nigerian state security does with the intelligence at their disposal,' he said.
