NSA Vows Sustained Crackdown After Victory Over Ansaru Gunmen

… Says We Will Hunt, Find, Bring Them to Justice
… Hands Over 128 Rescued Victims

By John Paul

National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday vowed that the Federal Government would sustain its onslaught against terrorists, kidnappers, and violent extremists until they are completely dismantled. Ribadu made the declaration in Abuja while formally handing over 128 kidnap victims rescued in Zamfara State, barely days after announcing the capture of two of Ansaru’s most wanted leaders.

“There will be no respite in our operations. There will be no safe haven for those who terrorise our citizens. We will hunt, find, and bring them to justice,” Ribadu declared. He described the latest rescue as “a victory for the Nigerian people and a crushing blow to the networks of terror that sought to undermine peace in the country.”

The NSA commended the Armed Forces, Police, intelligence agencies, and other operatives involved in the operation, stressing that their commitment reflected a new phase in the nation’s security strategy. He also warned against politicising the plight of victims, urging leaders at all levels to rise above division and work together “in the spirit of unity and compassion.”

National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Coordinator, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, said the 128 victims were freed in two batches after coordinated operations in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara. He explained that the first batch, rescued on August 14, comprised 42 persons — 40 males, seven females, and a toddler. The second batch, freed on August 19, comprised 34 males and 54 females. Sadly, he disclosed, one child died due to illness and fatigue while in captivity, while one woman gave birth prematurely, and her baby is currently receiving medical care.

The victims, who had been under the care of the Office of the NSA for medical treatment, psychological support, and rehabilitation, were formally handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Tanko Sununu, praised the security forces for the rescue and advised the freed victims to embrace education as a tool for rebuilding their lives. “Those who rescued you did so because of the knowledge they acquired. Use your freedom as an opportunity to strive for a better future,” he urged.

One of the victims, Abdullahi Salisu, recounted that some captives spent more than 42 days in detention and were left without food for long stretches. He thanked God and the government for their eventual rescue.

The development comes on the heels of the arrest of two top Ansaru terrorist leaders — Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, alias Mallam Mamuda — after months of intelligence-led operations. Ribadu had confirmed the arrests earlier this month, noting that Abu Bara’a, the self-proclaimed Emir of Ansaru, coordinated sleeper terror cells across Nigeria, masterminded kidnappings and robberies, and was linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break in Abuja. Both men were also implicated in the 2013 attack on a uranium facility in Niger Republic and the kidnapping of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina State.

“These arrests mark a new phase of intelligence-driven security operations. We are not just dismantling terror cells but moving after their financiers and sponsors,” Ribadu said.

The arrests drew international and local commendation. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria, in a statement on X, hailed the capture as “a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism,” describing it as a decisive blow to violent groups.

The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had also praised Ribadu’s leadership, describing the breakthrough as “a turning point in Nigeria’s anti-terror war.” Its chairman, Rev. John Hayab, said: “We do not want to be people who only grumble. When we see what is right, we must acknowledge it. Ribadu deserves enormous credit for the intelligence-driven operation that led to the arrest of some of Nigeria’s most wanted terrorists.”

Hayab had also lauded Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, for pursuing inclusive governance and infrastructure development, stressing that fairness and equity are essential to lasting peace. “Constructive engagement is the way forward. Inclusiveness and justice are key to stability,” he added.

With the rescue of 128 kidnap victims and the arrest of Ansaru’s most notorious leaders, security analysts say Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign has recorded some of its most significant breakthroughs in recent years. For Ribadu, however, the mission is far from over. “This is a victory, but not the end. The fight will continue until the last kidnapper, bandit, and terrorist is neutralised,” he vowed.