Video: Security agencies capture top terrorist kingpins in security breakthrough
Abdullateef Fowewe
In a significant victory for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the capture of two most-wanted terrorist kingpins, Abu Baraa and Mahmuda.
Video: Security agencies capture top terrorist kingpins in security breakthrough
The arrests, credited to the diligent and coordinated efforts of the nation’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies, mark a pivotal moment in ongoing operations to dismantle terror networks.
Speaking on Monday during a press briefing, Idris highlighted the breakthrough as a testament to enhanced security collaboration.
“This year, two most-wanted terrorist kingpins, Abu Baraa and Mahmuda, were captured through the diligent & coordinated work of Nigeria’s law enforcement & intelligence agencies,” the minister stated, emphasising the role of inter-agency synergy in tracking and apprehending high-value targets.
The Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s primary intelligence agency, has already filed formal charges against both suspects.
Idris assured the public of swift judicial processes, declaring, “The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed charges against both men, and justice will be done.”
This development comes amid intensified military and intelligence operations in Nigeria’s northeast, where groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have long posed threats to civilians and infrastructure.
The arrests follow a series of high-profile operations this year, including raids that neutralised several mid-level operatives and recovered substantial arms caches.
While details on the exact locations and methods of the captures remain classified to protect ongoing investigations, he confirmed the suspects are in custody and cooperating under interrogation.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has repeatedly pledged zero tolerance for terrorism, with Idris’s announcement underscoring progress in intelligence-driven counterterrorism.
