A Significant Counter-Terrorism Victory

Your Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we write to congratulate you and the Nigerian security agencies on the recent apprehension of two high-profile terrorist leaders. The capture of Mahmud Muhammad Usman (alias Abu Bara’a Abbas Mukhtar) – the self-proclaimed Emir of Ansaru – and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (alias Mallam Mamuda) is a major victory in Nigeria’s war against insurgency. These two men have long been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list and were even sought internationally for spearheading deadly attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. Their arrest in a high-risk operation conducted between May and July 2025 deals “the most decisive blow against Ansaru since its inception,” effectively dismantling the group’s central command.

This feat has drawn praise from Nigeria’s international partners. The United States Embassy in Nigeria hailed it as “a significant step forward” in the fight against terrorism, and the British High Commissioner lauded it as an “extraordinary…major step forward” under your leadership. Indeed, decapitating the leadership of terror groups is one sure-fire way to disrupt and degrade their capacity. By removing those who coordinate terror cells and mastermind atrocities – from prison breaks to high-profile kidnappings – Nigeria has delivered a clear message that there will be no impunity for terror kingpins. We join in commending your resolve and the gallantry of our forces for this achievement.

However, while this victory is significant, it is not the end of terrorism. Experts rightly caution that these extremist networks may attempt to regroup or retaliate. Boko Haram and its offshoots have historically shown resilience; even after leadership losses, they often morph or splinter rather than disappear entirely. Your National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu aptly noted that this marks “the beginning of the end of impunity” for such leaders. We must ensure it truly becomes the beginning of the end of terrorism itself, by coupling these security successes with justice and long-term solutions. In this open letter, we urge a strategy to consolidate this victory: pursue transparent justice for the captured terrorists, learn from past missteps, and address the root causes that birthed such violent movements.

Justice Over Extrajudicial Measures

Mr. President, a critical next step is to ensure these arrested terrorist leaders face justice in a court of law, rather than meeting a fate of secret execution or “accidental” death in custody. The National Human Rights Commission has rightly called on the government to swiftly inaugurate a special trial process for the Ansaru leaders, “holding them to the highest form of accountability befitting their heinous crimes”. We strongly support this call. Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done. By arraigning Usman (Abu Bara’a) and al-Nigeri (Mallam Mamuda) before a special tribunal or court – one that operates with speed but also transparency and fairness – your government will set an example of the rule of law. A public trial will allow Nigerians, especially victims of their terror, to see the evidence of their crimes exposed and to witness a lawful verdict delivered. This due process approach will reinforce citizens’ faith that our government does not abandon the justice system even when dealing with the worst of criminals.

Conversely, to execute or secretly eliminate these men would be a grave mistake. Extrajudicial killing may seem like expedient vengeance, but it ultimately undermines the rule of law and can fuel the very extremism we seek to end. Nigeria has tread this path before, with dire consequences. We recall July 2009, when Boko Haram’s leader Mohammed Yusuf was captured alive only to be summarily executed in police custody – an act that Human Rights Watch condemned as “a shocking example of brazen contempt…for the rule of law”. Back then, the police displayed Yusuf’s bullet-ridden body to the public, a stark message that vigilantism had trumped justice. In the short term, Yusuf’s death might have seemed to “solve” the problem. In reality, it poured fuel on the fire. His extrajudicial killing became a rallying cry for Boko Haram’s remnants, validating their narrative that the state was oppressive and unjust. Within months, the group re-emerged under Abubakar Shekau – even more bloodthirsty and vengeful – transforming a local radical sect into a full-blown terrorist insurgency that has ravaged our nation for over a decade.

The lesson is clear: killing terrorists without trial can backfire terribly. It can martyr them in the eyes of their followers and sympathizers, making it easier for insurgencies to recruit and regenerate. In contrast, a fair trial robs them of martyrdom. It publicly brands them as criminals, not heroes, and grants them the right to defend themselves – a right they never gave their victims. When the evidence of their atrocities is laid bare in court and they are given a chance to speak, the hollowness of their ideology is often exposed for all to see. Justice is a powerful antidote to terror, because it replaces chaos with order and vengeance with accountability. As Attorney General John Ashcroft said regarding the trial of the Oklahoma City bomber, “Our system of justice requires basic fairness… to sustain public confidence in the administration of justice.” Even in the face of heinous terrorism, adhering to due process upholds the moral high ground and the legitimacy of the state.

We urge you, therefore, to constitute a special terrorism tribunal or designate judges who can handle the trial of these Ansaru leaders efficiently and openly. Special measures – like protected witnesses, classified evidence procedures, and security at court – can be employed to manage the risks, but the core principle must be that these men are tried in a court of law. This will demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to justice over extrajudicial force, aligning with global human rights norms and setting Nigeria apart in a region where too often suspects “disappear” without accountability. Swift and public trials will also send a message to any would-be terrorists that while Nigeria will hunt them relentlessly, we will also treat them justly when caught, as befits a civilized nation.

Revisiting Past Mistakes: The Case of Mohammed Yusuf

In reinforcing this commitment to justice, it is important to reckon with past mistakes so they are not repeated. The extrajudicial killing of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf in 2009 remains a dark stain on Nigeria’s counter-terrorism history – one that arguably haunts us to this day. Yusuf’s death in custody was not only a moral and legal failing; it was strategically counterproductive, turbocharging the very insurgency we are still fighting. As noted, after Yusuf’s death, Boko Haram’s violence escalated dramatically. The group’s new leader, Abubakar Shekau, cited revenge for Yusuf when justifying waves of attacks. What had been a contained radical movement metastasized into a terror organization with global infamy.

Despite this, justice was never served for Yusuf’s unlawful killing. At the time, then-President Yar’Adua did order an investigation, and the government assured the world that those responsible would be prosecuted. Yet, in the end, not a single police officer or official was held accountable. Years later, some officers were charged, but a court in 2015 discharged them for lack of evidence, and they walked free. Thus, the murder of Yusuf – and of dozens of his followers who were allegedly executed in the crackdown – has gone unpunished, festering as an open wound. This lack of accountability sent a dangerous message that security forces could operate above the law, further eroding trust in the government in the very regions most vulnerable to extremist recruitment.

Mr. President, we challenge your administration to break this cycle by confronting the truth of Yusuf’s demise. It is not too late to seek accountability. We urge you to establish a special investigative panel to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding Mohammed Yusuf’s arrest, detention, and eventual assassination in custody. Such a panel – ideally composed of respected jurists, human rights advocates, and security experts – should review all available evidence, interview witnesses and officials involved, and publish findings on what exactly happened in that Maiduguri police station in July 2009. Importantly, if culpability can be established for specific officers or commanders, they should be brought to justice, even if years have passed. As you have emphasized the rule of law in other contexts, here too Nigeria must show that no one is above the law – be they a terrorist or a uniformed officer. If Yusuf, Shekau, and others deserve their day in court (had they been captured alive), then certainly those in our security services who violated the law and committed extrajudicial killings also deserve their day in court. True justice is blind to status: it holds all perpetrators of unlawful violence accountable, whether they claim to fight for God or for the government.

Reckoning with the Yusuf episode would have several benefits. Firstly, it would signal to the North East community – where Boko Haram was born – that the federal government acknowledges past wrongs and values the lives of their sons, even those led astray. This could help heal grievances that terrorists have long exploited. Secondly, it would put security forces on notice that going forward, abuses and extra-judicial actions will not be tolerated, thereby encouraging more professional conduct. Finally, it sets a precedent that Nigeria learns from history. We cannot undo the past, but we can learn its lessons to avoid repeating it. In Yusuf’s case, the lesson is stark: justice denied can become justice delayed for the entire nation, as we’ve been paying for that mistake in blood and tears for years. By investigating and providing closure to that chapter, you can help close the cycle of impunity.

Global Lessons: Justice and Reform as Anti-Terror Tools

Your Excellency, Nigeria is not alone in facing the scourge of terrorism. Across the world, other nations have grappled with violent extremism and found that lasting solutions require more than military might – they require justice, accountability, and addressing root causes. We urge you to draw from these global lessons as you shape Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy. In particular, successful examples from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Western nations illustrate the effectiveness of combining tough security action with the rule of law and social reforms:

• Southeast Asia (Indonesia): In the early 2000s, Indonesia was wracked by terrorist bombings – most infamously the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed over 200 people. Rather than resort to death squads, the Indonesian government strengthened its legal framework and brought the perpetrators to justice openly. It enacted new anti-terror laws and quickly arrested key suspects. Three masterminds of the Bali attack – Imam Samudra, Ali Ghufron, and Amrozi – were prosecuted, convicted, and executed in 2008 after thorough trials. A fourth accomplice received a life sentence. These trials were public, showing Indonesians that justice was served for the heinous crimes. Equally important, Indonesia recognized that force alone was not enough; it implemented deradicalisation programs for convicted extremists. Police-led initiatives engaged imprisoned terrorists in dialogue to change their mindset and ensure they did not return to violence upon release, helping Indonesia achieve a low recidivism rate of around 11%. This comprehensive approach – firm justice combined with rehabilitation – “broke the back” of the terrorist networks and has been credited with drastically reducing the threat of Jemaah Islamiyah and related groups in Southeast Asia.
• North Africa and Middle East (Morocco): Facing the spread of jihadist terror, Morocco provides a model of a holistic counter-terror strategy. After coordinated suicide bombings struck Casablanca in 2003, the Moroccan government did not respond with just mass arrests; it undertook a “profound transformation” of its counterterrorism approach. On one hand, Morocco tightened security and passed new laws (e.g. Law 03.03 expanded the definition of terrorism and imposed heavy penalties) to empower law enforcement against terrorists. On the other hand, it launched what analysts call a tri-dimensional strategy – integrating security measures, socio-economic development, and religious reforms. Morocco invested in impoverished communities, addressing youth unemployment and poverty that feed extremism. It also reformed religious education and promoted moderate teachings, undercutting extremist ideology. Over the past two decades, this approach has yielded impressive results: Moroccan authorities have dismantled more than 200 terrorist cells and foiled hundreds of plots, all while upholding the rule of law and human rights. Notably, Morocco’s success shows that “no country can defeat terrorism with just arrests” – a nation must also dry up the pools of resentment and misguidance that terrorism thrives in. By combining hard power with prevention and reform, Morocco markedly reduced domestic terror attacks. This balanced model is increasingly cited as best practice in Africa, demonstrating that a comprehensive, justice-based approach can curb terrorism’s appeal.
• Western Nations (United States & United Kingdom): Western experiences also underscore the value of justice and addressing grievances. The United Kingdom endured decades of sectarian terrorism during “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. What ultimately brought peace was not a military victory but the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, a political settlement that addressed the root political causes of the conflict by creating an inclusive power-sharing government. By giving voice to long-marginalized communities and reforming governance (while also decommissioning weapons under the law), the UK turned a terrorist campaign into a democratic process. Though far from a direct parallel to Boko Haram, the lesson from Northern Ireland is that political inclusion and justice can convert terrorists into stakeholders in peace, whereas endless force cannot. Likewise, the United States has dealt with terror both domestic and foreign. In doing so, it has often emphasized bringing terrorists to justice in courts as a show of strength of its legal system. For example, the worst domestic terror attack in U.S. history – the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 – saw perpetrator Timothy McVeigh tried in a civilian court, convicted by a jury, and executed after due process in 2001. The process was public and painstaking, underlining that even someone who killed 168 innocent people (including children) would get a fair trial, because upholding the rule of law was part of the victory over terror. As the U.S. Attorney General explained when postponing McVeigh’s execution briefly to ensure all evidence was reviewed, “it is my responsibility to promote the sanctity of the rule of law and justice…if any doubts remain, it would cast a permanent cloud over justice”. This commitment to fairness, even for a terrorist, ultimately strengthened public faith in justice. On the other hand, when states have circumvented justice – for instance, the use of secret prisons or torture in the post-9/11 era – it often provoked domestic and international backlash and did not conclusively end terrorist threats. The takeaway for Nigeria is that adhering to our laws and values in punishing terrorists is not a weakness but a strength. It deprives extremists of propaganda fuel and garners broader support for the government’s counter-terrorism efforts.

In all these cases, justice and smart policy trumped brute force alone. They illustrate that a government can be tough on terror without tossing away its principles. You have an opportunity to emulate these successes. By ensuring high-profile terrorists are tried and punished lawfully, and by enacting reforms that prevent the rise of the next generation of extremists, Nigeria can turn this tactical victory into a strategic turning point in the war against Boko Haram/Ansaru.

Targeting Root Causes, Not Just Symptoms

Finally, Mr. President, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: the capture of terrorist leaders, as landmark as it is, addresses a symptom of a deeper problem, not the root cause. Boko Haram, Ansaru, and similar groups drew life from underlying conditions that remain largely unaddressed. Until those root causes are effectively tackled, we cannot declare “uhuru” – we cannot declare full freedom from the scourge of terrorism. It is commendable that your government recognizes this, as shown by initiatives like Operation Safe Corridor, which the International Organization for Migration praised for rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant ex-fighters. But more is needed on a broader scale. We urge a comprehensive package of reforms and programs that strike at the heart of what drives Nigerians into the arms of extremist groups:

• Poverty and Underdevelopment: The North-East and other conflict-prone regions still suffer from extreme poverty, high unemployment, and lack of basic infrastructure. These hardships make communities vulnerable to recruitment – when young men have no jobs or hope, an extremist’s stipend or false promise of glory can entice. The government must double down on economic development in these regions – build schools, hospitals, roads; incentivize investment and agriculture; create jobs and vocational training for youth. Development is a form of counter-terrorism: a person with a stake in society is far less likely to destroy it.
• Lack of Education and Ideological Void: Decades of poor education and limited access to modern curricula in northern Nigeria created a vacuum that Boko Haram’s twisted ideology eagerly filled. We need educational reform and outreach – not only to improve secular education standards but also to partner with moderate religious leaders to counter extremist interpretations. Expanding programs that teach critical thinking, peace, and tolerance in madrassas and schools will help inoculate the next generation against violent extremist propaganda.
• Impunity and Injustice: Terrorism often feeds on the perception of injustice. Corruption, abusive policing, and lack of accountability for crimes (whether by officials or others) breed cynicism and anger. A key reform must be to strengthen governance and accountability. This includes continuing your efforts against corruption, but also reforming the security sector. When people see police and soldiers who are protectors, not predators, their trust in the state grows. This trust, in turn, undercuts the narratives of jihadists who paint the government as evil. As Dr. Tony Ojukwu of the NHRC emphasized, failures of security and justice – such as unpunished killings of citizens – create fertile ground for violence, and we must address “poverty, impunity, and weak institutional responses” as root causes. We urge you to ensure human rights training for security forces, robust oversight mechanisms, and zero tolerance for human rights abuses. Every time a community reports a grievance against authorities and sees justice done, it closes a recruiting door that Boko Haram or Ansaru might have opened.
• Community Engagement and Reconciliation: The war against terror is also a war for hearts and minds. We must engage local leaders, traditional institutions, women’s groups, and civil society in crafting local solutions. Encourage dialogues in affected communities about grievances and how to resolve them peacefully. Expand de-radicalization and rehabilitation efforts for low-level fighters – allow those duped or coerced into joining terrorists a path back to society after appropriate screening and re-education. Also, support the victims of terrorism – displaced persons, orphans, the bereaved – with psychosocial care and economic support, so that trauma does not fester into new hatred.

In essence, Sir, we must treat the disease, not just the symptoms. The disease is not simply the existence of evil men like Abu Bara’a or Shekau; they are manifestations. The disease is the set of conditions – material, psychological, and social – that allowed their toxic ideas to take root among our people. By all means, we should celebrate the removal of dangerous men from the battlefield, but let us not declare victory yet. It is not yet uhuru – not yet freedom – until we drain the swamps that bred them. That means long-term investments in justice, good governance, and opportunity for all Nigerians. It means ensuring that a child in Borno or Yobe has the same chance at life as a child in Lagos, so that no charlatan can lure the former with false promises. It means showing, through actions, that the Nigerian state values the lives and rights of even its poorest citizens, so that extremists cannot claim to be their saviors.

Conclusion: Seizing the Moment for Lasting Peace

Mr. President, the recent arrests of these terrorist leaders represent a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency. You have an opportunity to turn this moment into a truly historic turning point. By choosing the path of justice, transparency, and reform, you can convert battlefield triumph into enduring peace. Arranging swift and fair trials for the captured Ansaru commanders will demonstrate strength with principle, assuring Nigerians and the world that we are a nation of laws. Investigating past excesses like the Yusuf incident will shore up the moral authority of our forces and help prevent future mistakes. Adopting global best practices – from development-based counter-extremism to community policing and deradicalization – will attack the foundations upon which terror groups build their castles of hate.

Your administration’s mantra of “renewed hope” can be powerfully applied here: hope that Nigeria can end this long war not by mirroring the lawlessness of terrorists, but by upholding justice and improving our society. The arrest of Abu Bara’a and Mallam Mamuda is a milestone, but whether it becomes a footnote or a chapter break in Nigeria’s history depends on the follow-through. We urge you to ensure it is the latter – a chapter break – where future generations will say: that was when Nigeria decisively turned the tide. They will say President Tinubu chose the path of justice and comprehensive reform, and as a result, Nigeria finally uprooted the cancer of terrorism instead of merely cutting off its branches.

In closing, we commend your leadership on this counter-terror success and strongly encourage you to cement your legacy by delivering justice and addressing the root causes of terror. By doing so, you will not only win battles but also secure the peace. The Nigerian people, who have suffered so much, deserve no less. History has shown us what works in combating terror – accountability, fairness, and addressing grievances – and now is the time to apply those lessons. We look forward to a future where Nigerians can live without fear, where our unity and prosperity deny any breeding ground to violent extremism. With your continued commitment to justice and good governance, that future – though not yet uhuru – will inch ever closer to reality.

Thank you for your leadership, and may Nigeria soon enjoy the lasting peace and security we all pray for.

Sincerely,
Bukola Adeyemi OYENIYI – Concerned Citizen and Advocate for Peace and Justice

Cc: Nigerian Security Agencies, Human Rights Commission, Media Houses

Sources:

• Arise News – Nigeria Captures Globally Wanted Al-Qaeda Leaders in High-Risk Counter-Terrorism Operation
• Arise News – Boko Haram Founder’s Son, Ansaru Leaders Arrested…Hailed by US, UK
• Associated Press – Nigeria says it has arrested 2 militant leaders on its most wanted list
• The Guardian – Nigeria Islamist group leader killed in police custody (2009)
• Human Rights Watch – Nigeria: Prosecute Killings by Security Forces
• ThisDay (via UNHCR) – Court Releases Suspected Killers of Boko Haram Leader, Mohammed Yusuf
• Arise News – NHRC Urges Immediate Commencement of Trials for Arrested Leaders of Ansaru Sect
• Al Jazeera – How ‘war on terror’ was fought & won in Southeast Asia – for now
• Vision of Humanity (GTI 2022) – Morocco’s Counterterrorism Evolution
• S. Department of Justice – Attorney General Statement on the Execution of Timothy McVeigh