Insecurity: US hails Nigeria over arrest of Ansaru leaders
By Idun Maximus
The United States, has commended the Federal Government over the recent arrest of leaders of Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Mahmud al-Nigeri.
The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, gave the commendation in a post on its X handle.
The United States Government said the arrest was a significant forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had at the weekend, disclosed the arrest of the Ansaru leaders.
Ribadu had during a press briefing in Abuja, said the two terrorists who had been on the wanted list of Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations, were captured in an operation conducted between May and July 2025.
The Pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also said the men were captured in a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation.
He further said the two men have been responsible for masterminding many terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the past years.
Reacting to the development, the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria said: “We commend the Nigerian Government and security forces on the successful arrest of wanted #Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda). This is a significant forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”
Meanwhile, the United States Government, has said that visa applicants in Nigeria will provide all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form.
The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, disclosed this on its X handle.
Referencing a directive from the United States Department of State, it said that omitting social media information on application could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future United States visas.
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria said.
