The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Khalid Albarnawi, a senior jihadist commander widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Nigeria's extremist network.

Security analysts have described this as one of the country's biggest breakthroughs in the fight against terrorism.

The development was disclosed by Ahmad Salkida, a journalist noted for his extensive contacts within Boko Haram and other insurgent groups in the Lake Chad region.

According to Salkida, Albarnawi was arrested around 9:00 a.m. near a military facility in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Although initial reports suggested the operation took place in Niger State, intelligence sources later confirmed that the arrest occurred in Lokoja before the suspect was transferred to another location on Friday.

Albarnawi is the leader of Ansaru, formally known as Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, an extremist group that broke away from Boko Haram in 2012 over ideological and operational differences.

The group gained notoriety for kidnapping foreigners, attacking security personnel, and maintaining links with international terrorist organisations, including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Security experts consider Albarnawi one of the most significant terrorist figures ever apprehended by Nigerian authorities.

Counter-terrorism circles reportedly rank him as being "as important as Abubakar Shekau," the former notorious Boko Haram leader who died in 2021 following clashes with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Beyond his leadership of Ansaru, Albarnawi is believed to have maintained extensive ties with jihadist groups across North Africa and the Middle East, making him a key figure in coordinating extremist activities, logistics, recruitment and international terrorist connections.

Salkida further revealed that intelligence indicated Albarnawi had recently reconciled with the leadership of ISWAP, the faction that split from Boko Haram and later became the dominant insurgent group operating in Nigeria's North-East.

The reported reconciliation was seen by security analysts as a potentially dangerous development capable of strengthening cooperation among terrorist factions.

Describing the arrest as one of the greatest achievements in Nigeria's counter-insurgency campaign, Salkida said the operation could significantly weaken terrorist networks if investigators are able to exploit intelligence obtained from the suspect.

He wrote on social media that security sources confirmed the DSS arrested Khalid Albarnawi of Ansaru, who was believed to have reunited with the leadership of ISWAP, adding in a subsequent update that the operation took place in Lokoja, Kogi State, rather than Niger State as initially reported.