Chadian and Nigerian security forces have captured Boko Haram founder’s teenage son and two globally wanted Ansaru terrorist leaders in separate operations.
In coordinated security operations, Chadian forces apprehended an 18-year-old believed to be the youngest son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf. The young man, identified as Muslim Mohammed Yusuf, was reportedly leading a small jihadist cell in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, when he was arrested alongside five other suspected insurgents. Meanwhile, Nigerian authorities captured two internationally wanted Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (Mallam Mamuda), in operations conducted between May and July 2025. These arrests target terrorist networks operating in the Lake Chad region, an area that includes parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where communities have long suffered violence from Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani ethnic militants.
The arrests, recently made public, have generated cautious optimism among security experts and local residents. According to a Nigerian intelligence officer operating in the Lake Chad area, Muslim Yusuf was leading a six-man cell linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter group that broke away from Boko Haram due to ideological differences. “The team was headed by Muslim, the youngest son of the late Boko Haram founder,” the source told AFP, adding that the group was planning operations that could have further destabilized the region.
Ansaru Leadership Captured
Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced the capture of the two Ansaru leaders during a months-long, intelligence-driven operation. Abu Bara’a, described as the “Emir of Ansaru,” was the overall coordinator of the group’s sleeper cells across Nigeria and mastermind of several kidnappings and terrorist financing operations. His deputy, Mamuda, headed the notorious “Mahmudawa” faction based in and around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya under foreign jihadist instructors.
The two men were responsible for major attacks including the 2022 Kuje prison break in Abuja, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, the abduction of the Emir of Wawa, and attacks on a Niger uranium facility. “These two men have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years and are also internationally sought terrorists,” Ribadu said. “Their capture marks one of the most decisive blows against Ansaru since its emergence in 2012.”
Meanwhile, Chadian police confirmed the arrest of six undocumented individuals, described as “bandits operating in the city,” but declined to verify whether one of them was indeed Yusuf’s son. “They are members of Boko Haram,” police spokesman Paul Manga told reporters in N’Djamena, emphasizing ongoing efforts to curb insurgent activities. Photos circulating in the media show a young, slender man in a blue tracksuit bearing a striking resemblance to the late Mohammed Yusuf, standing alongside older suspects.
Multi-Faceted Threat in Middle Belt
For residents of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani ethnic militants have operated for over a decade, these arrests carry particular significance. The region has faced violence from multiple sources, with Fulani herders increasingly militarized and often coordinating with established jihadist groups to target farming communities. The arrests recall 2009, when Mohammed Yusuf was killed during a military crackdown in Maiduguri that left over 800 people dead. At that time, Muslim Yusuf was just an infant. His father’s death marked a turning point, escalating the insurgency into a campaign that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
The Middle Belt’s diverse communities have faced attacks from multiple militant groups. Boko Haram and ISWAP have targeted villages, while Fulani ethnic militants have systematically attacked Christian farming communities, destroying farmlands, burning churches, and displacing families. This multi-pronged threat has created an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
A former Boko Haram lieutenant who has renounced the group confirmed Muslim Yusuf’s arrest, stating, “He and the team were arrested by Chadian security. They are six in number.” This underscores ongoing regional efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, particularly through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which has reported progress against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and associated militant groups. However, the insurgency remains active. Recent attacks, including one on Chad’s presidential palace, highlight the groups’ continued operational capacity, while Borno and Yobe states face regular assaults from various militant factions.
Intelligence and Operational Impact
Ribadu said the arrest of the Ansaru leaders has effectively dismantled the terrorist group’s central command. Caches of materials and digital evidence recovered during the operation are undergoing forensic analysis and are expected to yield intelligence on the group’s networks in Nigeria and the wider Sahel.
The arrests may provide critical intelligence about jihadist operations and potentially disrupt activities across the Lake Chad Basin. They may also offer insights into coordination between traditional jihadist groups and ethnic militant factions like the Fulani militants operating throughout Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
For Middle Belt communities that have experienced violence from multiple militant groups, the arrests represent both progress and a reminder of ongoing challenges. “The fall of Ansaru’s leadership signals the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders in Nigeria,” Ribadu declared. “We will continue to pursue extremists with precision, resolve, and unwavering determination.”
The coordinated nature of these arrests, spanning from Chad to Nigeria and targeting different terrorist networks—reflects increased regional cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts. However, the persistence of multiple militant groups across the region suggests that while these captures represent tactical victories, the broader security challenge remains complex and ongoing.
Sources: Adapted from AFP and regional security network