Nigeria arrests leaders of high-profile terror group
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.
President Bola Tinubu's spokesman Bayo Onanuga described the capture in a social media post as a "significant breakthrough in the war against terrorism".
The group was also accused of blowing up rail tracks and raiding a train travelling from the capital Abuja to the northwestern city of Kaduna also in 2022. Eight people were killed and dozens more kidnapped and held for months.
They "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 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 the two had been involved in several high-profile kidnappings in the regions.
- Jailbreaks and kidnappings -
The Boko Haram splinter group was formed in 2012, later aligning itself with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
The United States in 2013 designated the group alongside Boko Haram as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations".
Ribadu said the capture of the group's leader and deputy commander, "marks one of the most significant achievements to date in our ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of the threat of terrorism".
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-Nigeri 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.
The group was responsible for the 2013 kidnap of a Briton and an Italian in Kebbi state. The duo were killed in a botched rescue operation by British and Nigerian forces.
The group also claimed responsibility for the kidnap of a French engineer in northern Katsina state in 2012. He later escaped.
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The Australian
17 hours ago
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Nigeria arrests leaders of high-profile terror group
Nigerian officials said Saturday they had arrested the alleged leaders of a jihadist group accused of several high-profile attacks including a 2022 brazen 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. President Bola Tinubu's spokesman Bayo Onanuga described the capture in a social media post as a "significant breakthrough in the war against terrorism". The group was also accused of blowing up rail tracks and raiding a train travelling from the capital Abuja to the northwestern city of Kaduna also in 2022. Eight people were killed and dozens more kidnapped and held for months. They "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 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 the two had been involved in several high-profile kidnappings in the regions. - Jailbreaks and kidnappings - The Boko Haram splinter group was formed in 2012, later aligning itself with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The United States in 2013 designated the group alongside Boko Haram as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations". Ribadu said the capture of the group's leader and deputy commander, "marks one of the most significant achievements to date in our ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of the threat of terrorism". 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-Nigeri 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. The group was responsible for the 2013 kidnap of a Briton and an Italian in Kebbi state. The duo were killed in a botched rescue operation by British and Nigerian forces. The group also claimed responsibility for the kidnap of a French engineer in northern Katsina state in 2012. He later escaped. tba-abu/sn/gv
News.com.au
21 hours ago
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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.
News.com.au
a day ago
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Viral video shows mob beating two Nigerian students for being gay
Two Nigerian university students were brutally beaten by a mob after being accused of being gay, with graphic videos of the incident going viral on social media. The attack is the latest in a string of violent assaults, prompting alarm over a growing wave of vigilante violence targeting LGBTQ+ people across the country. The disturbing incident, which took place at the Delta State University (DELSU) in southern Nigeria, shows the two young men being hunted down, cornered, and violently assaulted by a crowd of fellow students. In one video circulating on TikTok, the mob is seen smashing windows and trying to force their way into a small security building where the victims had locked themselves in for safety. Dozens of onlookers gathered around the scene — some jeering, others recording the attack on their phones. In another clip shared on Twitter by the school's student blog, the two men are dragged outside, thrown onto the ground, and savagely whipped with belts and sticks by a group of young men. They are visibly covered in blood and bruises, pleading for mercy as the crowd looks on. The videos, which can still be found online continue to circulate on TikTok and Instagram, appear to have been filmed and uploaded by students at the university. What has horrified many online observers is not just the brutality of the attack, but the flood of support it has received online. In the comment sections of the TikTok videos, many users cheered on the violence and urged the mob to kill the victims. 'Shey una kpai the two guys sha? (I hope you people killed the two of them?)' one TikTok user wrote in Pidgin, a local dialect. Another added, 'I wish I was there. It's been ages since I assaulted gay men.' Some of the comments even went on to harass and threaten people who showed displeasure with the video. Peter (pseudonym), a gay man who was a student at the school, witnessed the incident that fateful day and told that the attack had left him traumatised and scared to go to classes. 'I've always read stories of gay men like me being attacked and lynched to death, but I never thought I'd witness one. I'm still traumatised.' the 20-year-old said. 'Those boys could easily have been me or one of my friends. My classmates constantly troll me for being feminine and throw gay slurs at me. I've been threatened before, but I never thought they'd actually go through with it. After what happened, I'm genuinely scared for my safety. I'm not ready to go back to school.' In Nigeria, homosexuality is criminalised under federal law, with same-sex relationships carrying prison sentences of up to 14 years. The 2014 Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act not only bans same-sex marriage but also criminalises all forms of consensual same-sex relationships and public displays of affection. In several northern states governed by sharia law, homosexuality is punishable by death. Public attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria remain deeply hostile, shaped by entrenched cultural, religious, and political resistance to queer visibility. This environment not only fuels widespread prejudice but also provides cover for vigilante violence. Even being suspected of queerness — a label that can carry life-threatening consequences — can result in harassment, arrest, and brutal physical assault. Human rights advocates warn that the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with an alarming rise in public 'jungle justice' attacks against queer Nigerians, many of them filmed, shared online, and met with public applause instead of outrage. 'This isn't just about the law anymore,' Philip, a queer rights activist based in Lagos told 'It's about everyday people deciding they have the right to punish, beat, and humiliate queer people as a form of moral policing, then broadcast it for clout. And the internet is amplifying it.' The students seen in the viral videos have not been publicly identified, and their current condition remains unknown. So far, neither the police nor university authorities have issued a formal statement, and no arrests have been reported in connection with the attack. Attacks like these are not isolated. Over the past year, multiple videos have surfaced from different regions of Nigeria showing young men accused of being gay being assaulted, stripped, or humiliated in public. Last year, a video went viral on Twitter showing two gay men being beaten and paraded through the streets of Port Harcourt in southern Nigeria. The men, dressed only in their underwear, were attacked with fists and sticks, their bodies bloodied and bruised as the mob marched them through the streets. In another grim attack, Chantell — a well-known trans woman in Nigeria, famously called the 'Area Mama of Abuja' — was brutally murdered and left on the side of a highway. Videos of her body, believed to have been deliberately positioned as a final act of humiliation, were posted online showing severe head trauma and multiple injuries. In many cases, the attackers film the incidents themselves, either as a trophy or a warning. These videos are then uploaded to platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, where they often rack up hundreds of thousands or even millions of views. 'These platforms are fuelling a digital witch hunt,' Philip said. 'There is no moderation. These videos stay up for days, sometimes weeks. People are commenting, laughing, and supporting the violence. It's terrifying.' Back in October, Meta's Oversight Board publicly criticised Facebook for failing to remove a violent video that showed two bleeding men being beaten by a mob over allegations of homosexuality in Nigeria. Despite multiple user reports, the video remained on the platform for five months and was viewed more than 3.6 million times. The company later admitted that language barriers and a lack of regional moderation contributed to the delay. Adding to the growing sense of fear is the rise of openly anti-LGBTQ movements, some led by influential figures on social media. In recent weeks, a popular Nigerian TikTok influencer known as S.K Records, launched a campaign called SOS — short for 'Save Our Society' — which frames homosexuality as a Western threat to African values and encourages young Nigerians to take action. The movement has amassed thousands of followers in a matter of weeks. In videos posted under the SOS tag, the influencer has boasted about 'exposing' suspected gay men and urged others to do the same. Some posts call for beatings, arrests, and public humiliation. Although the movement is not directly linked to the university attack, activists say it's part of the same growing culture of vigilante justice and digital incitement. 'This kind of rhetoric gives mobs permission,' says Philip, the Lagos-based activist. 'It tells them they are doing something noble.' The influencer behind the campaign has not been banned or sanctioned by TikTok, despite repeated community reports. For queer Nigerians, the growing normalisation of public violence — both offline and online — has created an atmosphere of fear. Many LGBTQ+ individuals now avoid public spaces, live under pseudonyms online, and move frequently to avoid detection. Some have been forced to flee the country altogether. 'There is no safe place,' said Philip. 'Not in the streets, not online, not even on a university campus.' International human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly condemned Nigeria's anti-LGBTQ+ laws and called on the government to do more to protect queer citizens from violence and discrimination. But with growing public support for mob justice and little accountability for perpetrators, progress remains elusive. 'What we saw in that video is a hate crime,' Philip added. 'It's not 'discipline.' It's not 'correction.' It's hate. And Nigerians are treating it like content.'
