A new terror group, known as Mahmuda, has emerged in the North-Central region of Nigeria, specifically around the Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), which spans parts of Kwara and Niger States.
The group is reported to be wreaking havoc across various rural communities, particularly in areas such as Kaiama and Barutein Local Government Areas in Kwara, as well as parts of Babana and Wawa Districts in Niger.
According to SaharaReporters, the Mahmuda group has gained notoriety for its violent tactics, including attacking and killing members of local vigilante groups.
One such attack on Wednesday resulted in the death of over 15 vigilantes and villagers.
As one source stated, “They called themselves Mahmuda group. Their leader in a voice note is threatening all the communities. They kill and kidnap victims and also demand ransom.”
The group’s violent activities have led to widespread fear in the affected regions.
As one source also noted, “The surge of insecurity in Nigeria has been a source of concern to the citizenry because of its destructive factor to livelihood, and unfortunately, new militant groups continue to emerge and occupy the ungoverned spaces in the country.”
The militants reportedly collect “dues” from herders and farmers within the park, controlling both the economic and social activities in the area.
Their growing influence has led to a disturbing pattern where they impose regulations on the sale of alcohol, resolve local disputes, and even control the labor force in the region by forcing residents to work on their farms.
Despite the increased threat posed by Mahmuda, there has been a lack of effective response from national security forces.
The residents of the affected communities, feeling abandoned, are increasingly turning to vigilante groups for protection.
The sophisticated weapons at the disposal of the militants make it difficult for local security forces to engage them, further exacerbating the crisis in this part of Nigeria.
The emergence of the Mahmuda group is a stark reminder of the widening insecurity in Nigeria, where new militant groups continue to thrive, occupying ungoverned spaces and terrorizing vulnerable populations.
“The loss of trust in the security agent to address the insecurity challenges in the area makes the vigilante group work hand in hand with the Mahmuda Group to rescue kidnapped victims from the bandits,” one source explained.
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