the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has confirmed the arrest of Abubakar Abba, leader of Mahmuda — one of the most feared terror groups in West Africa.
According to the Governor, Abba was captured alive in Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State after weeks of intense surveillance by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). He has since been transferred to Abuja for further investigation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Bago hailed the operation as a “huge victory” for both the state and the nation.
“Yes, it is true. I can confirm that the leader of Mahmuda, one of the most dangerous terror groups in West Africa, has been arrested by the DSS,” the Governor said. “He was apprehended alive through an intelligence-led operation — without a single shot fired.”
Governor Bago credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s security appointments and political will for the success of the operation, praising the DSS for its “tremendous intelligence and competence.”
“Where there is a will, there is a way. Mr. President has consistently shown that willpower, and that’s why we are recording such successes,” he added.
The Mahmuda terror group has for years terrorised communities around the Kainji National Park in Niger State, with the arrest of its leader marking a major breakthrough in the fight against insecurity in the region.
