The most wanted Ansaru terrorist group leader, Abu Baraa, has been arrested.
This was confirmed by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, at a special press briefing held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Abuja.
Baraa masterminded several high-profile attacks in the country.
Ribadu, in accompany with all the service chiefs and other heads of intelligence agencies, revealed that all the security forces have been trailing Baraa since May, before he was nabbed in July.
He said his trail became imperative because the group had become entrenched in the country that they were all out to bring down it with their nefarious activities.
“I am glad to inform you that we have successfully concluded a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation which led to the capture of the top leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate.
“The group was first formed in January 2012 with a public declaration in Kano. It emerged as a splinter faction from Boko Haram, positioning itself as a ‘humane alternative.’
“However, its stated aim quickly turned to attacking Nigerian security operatives, civilian communities and government infrastructure.
“The group publicly displayed the setting sun logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), signaling its ideological and operational alignment with global jihadist movements.
“Over the years, Ansaru entrenched itself in both urban sleeper cells and forest enclaves, across several cities in northern Nigeria and in forest based enclaves, particularly around Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara states as well as Benin Republic.”
Baraa’s arrest marked a major breakthrough nine years after the military captured Ansaru terrorist group leader, Khalid al-Barnawi, in 2016.
Barnawi was one of three Nigerians listed by Washington in 2012 as “specially designated global terrorists”.
