A new terrorist group known as Mahmuda has launched a deadly attack on Duruma village in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing three residents.
The assault reportedly took place on Tuesday morning and exploited a security gap left by the temporary absence of local hunters, who are currently in Ilorin undergoing training for the newly established National Forests Guard.
Despite recent military deployments in the region, the attackers managed to strike and flee before soldiers arrived.
The victims were buried shortly after the incident by community members.
Military presence in the area had increased following a visit by the Chief of Army Staff in April, which led to an operation that resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also visited affected areas and provided 25 motorcycles to local hunters to support joint security efforts.
However, according to residents, the Mahmuda group never fully vacated the region but was significantly weakened by the combined efforts of local hunters and military forces.
“Our local hunters are away for training in Ilorin.
The terrorists took advantage of their absence and struck,” a local resident told The PUNCH.
“Soldiers came later and fired into the air, but the attackers had already escaped. Just a week ago, they also burned down a farm settlement.”
Other areas reportedly affected by Mahmuda activities include Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu in Kaiama Local Government Area, as well as several villages in Yashikira District.
Additionally, sources said the group has extended its control to parts of neighboring Niger State, particularly Babana and Wawa Districts in Borgu Local Government Area.
“As I speak, Kemanji is under their control.
They haven’t reached Kaiama town yet, but this is how it started in places like Sokoto and Kebbi,” another resident warned.
Mahmuda, identified as an emerging terror group in Nigeria’s North Central zone, is known for targeting rural settlements near Kainji Lake National Park.
Efforts to get a response from the Kwara State Police Command were unsuccessful. Calls to spokesperson Toun Ejire-Adeyemi went unanswered, and messages sent via WhatsApp had not been replied to at the time of this report.
