By: Joy Musa
Kwara State, Nigeria – A deadly new militant group known as the Mahmuda Group has emerged in North-Central Nigeria, killing over 15 local vigilantes and several villagers in a brutal attack on Wednesday in Kemaanji, Kaiama Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State.
Sources confirmed to [Newspaper Name] that the group operates around the Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), which spans parts of Kwara and Niger States. Residents from affected areas including Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu in Kaiama LGA, as well as villages in the Yashikira District of Baruten LGA, are now living under siege.
The militants, who refer to themselves as the Mahmuda or Mallam Group, are reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons and have established control over vast ungoverned areas within the park. “They attacked our local vigilante group, killing over 15 of them,” a community source said. “They kill, kidnap, and extort residents freely. Their leader sent a voice note threatening more violence.”
Residents say the group enforces its own rule of law in the region, imposing taxes on herders, levies on farmers, and forcing locals to work on their farms under the guise of religious charity. They also reportedly regulate social activities, ban alcohol, and settle disputes, positioning themselves as the de facto authority in the region.
The group is believed to have originated from Mokwa LGA in Niger State, where they were previously evicted by the administration of former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu over suspected ties to Boko Haram. After moving through various forested areas in Kaduna and Kwara, they have now re-established themselves in the Kainji Lake National Park — a vast, largely ungoverned territory covering over 3,900 square kilometers.
Security analysts suggest the Mahmuda Group may be a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, possibly aligning with moderate Islamist ideologies. They communicate primarily in Hausa and are actively recruiting local informants and collaborators, often through a mix of coercion, propaganda, and religious influence.
“The militants have driven out existing bandits and now control access to resources like land, water, and even mining operations,” a source said. “They preach in communities and promote disloyalty to the Nigerian state, insisting that all disputes be settled through them.”
According to eyewitnesses, the insecurity in these border communities is exacerbated by the failure of federal and state authorities to maintain a consistent security presence. The National Park itself has reportedly been unguarded for years, leaving it vulnerable to occupation by armed groups.
“The loss of trust in security forces has made some vigilantes even cooperate with the group to secure the release of kidnapped victims,” said another source. “The fact that they remain active with such heavy firepower raises questions about who may be shielding them.”
Local authorities have yet to issue a formal response, but there is growing pressure on the federal government to intervene decisively. Human rights advocates are also calling for an independent investigation into the group’s activities and the potential complicity of certain actors in the region.
As communities in Kwara and Niger continue to live under the militant group’s control, many fear that unless urgent action is taken, Mahmuda may become another deeply entrenched threat to Nigeria’s fragile security landscape.
