Peter Obi Commends Security Agencies Over Arrest of Top Ansaru Terrorist Leaders
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has praised Nigeria’s security agencies for their latest breakthrough in the fight against terrorism following the arrest of two top leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group.
The arrests were confirmed last Saturday by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who described it as a “high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation” carried out between May and July 2025.
According to Ribadu, Mahmud Muhammad Usman, the self-proclaimed Emir of Ansaru, was captured as the group’s coordinator of several terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He was reportedly behind multiple high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to fund the group’s operations.
His deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, who led Ansaru’s “Mahmudawa” cell, was also arrested. The cell had been operating around the Kainji National Park region, spanning Niger and Kwara States into Benin Republic.
Ribadu further linked the arrested leaders to several deadly operations, including:
- The 2022 Kuje prison break
- The attack on the Niger uranium facility
- 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
He added that the group also maintains ties with terrorist networks across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Obi Reacts
In a post via his official X handle on Tuesday, Obi described the arrests as “a step in the right direction”, applauding the courage of Nigerian security operatives.
“Our gallant officers and men in uniform have shown courage, often under very difficult conditions. Their sacrifices remind us that Nigeria can—and must—be safe for all its citizens. I salute their professionalism and urge that they be better equipped, trained, and motivated to sustain these gains,” Obi said.
While celebrating the achievement, Obi warned against complacency and stressed the importance of justice.
“Beyond arrests, we must remain vigilant. Terrorism and violent criminality thrive when justice is not served, when those arrested are recycled back into society without accountability. Justice must take its full course so that impunity is not encouraged,” he added.
Call for Stronger Security
The former Anambra governor emphasized that security is the bedrock of national development, urging leaders to provide political will, resources, and support to security agencies.
He reaffirmed his vision for “a new Nigeria” anchored on peace, justice, and sustainable development, stressing that a secure nation is the only path to lasting progress.
