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Nigeria’s security forces have arrested the most wanted leader of the Ansaru terrorist group, Abu Baraa, who allegedly masterminded several high-profile attacks in the country.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced during a special press briefing at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja on Saturday.
Ribadu, who was flanked by service chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies, revealed that security operatives had been trailing Baraa since May before he was eventually captured in July.
According to him, the arrest was a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism.
The NSA explained that Baraa’s trail became imperative due to the growing entrenchment of the Ansaru group within Nigeria.
He said, “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.”
The post Just In: Security Forces Arrest Most Wanted Ansaru Leader, Abu Baraa appeared first on Naija News.
