A dangerous armed group known as the Mahmuda Group has emerged in North Central Nigeria, launching violent attacks and seizing control of remote villages around the Kainji Lake National Park. Spanning Kwara and Niger States, this strategic region now faces escalating insecurity as militants tighten their hold on ungoverned territories.
Coordinated Raids Leave Dozens Dead
The group has carried out a series of deadly attacks across rural communities, especially in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. Villages such as Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu have all suffered repeated raids. In Baruten Local Government’s Yashikira District, residents report similar assaults. The violence has also extended into Babana and Wawa Districts in Niger State’s Borgu Local Government Area.
On Wednesday, militants ambushed a local vigilante unit in Kemaanji, killing more than 15 security volunteers and several villagers. Witnesses confirmed that the attackers stormed the area, opened fire, and vanished before authorities could respond.
Militants Enforce Religious Laws and Demand Payments
Led by a man who identifies himself as Mahmuda or Mallam, the group has imposed strict rules on the communities under its control. According to locals, the group bans alcohol, controls conflict resolution, and demands financial contributions from farmers and herders. Villagers must pay “levies” to cultivate crops or graze livestock, while noncompliance often leads to threats, assault, or abduction.
The militants regularly send audio messages to issue threats and collect ransoms after kidnappings. Residents say the group governs with fear and imposes labor obligations on the communities it dominates.
Suspected Boko Haram Offshoot Exploits Border Weakness
Security analysts believe the Mahmuda Group could be a splinter faction of Boko Haram. Though it claims to be a moderate Islamist movement, it employs jihadist tactics to enforce its authority. Many suspect that some members entered Nigeria through poorly monitored borders with Niger or Benin Republic, taking advantage of the lack of government presence in forested areas.
Militants Occupy Kainji National Park and Exploit Its Resources
The group reportedly seized control of the Kainji Lake National Park over five years ago, forcing park rangers to abandon their posts. Since then, the militants have used the vast, 3,970 square kilometre area as a base for criminal operations. Within the park, they carry out illegal logging, impose taxes, abduct residents, and allegedly run unauthorized mining operations.
By exploiting this ungoverned space, the Mahmuda Group has expanded its reach while avoiding law enforcement intervention.
Communities Live Under Militant Rule
Residents now live under constant fear and oppression. The militants demand payments disguised as “Zakah” for cattle grazing and land usage. In many cases, villagers work as unpaid laborers for the group. Locals also report that the militants hunt down traditional healers, accusing them of helping vigilantes resist militant control.
The situation has created a parallel authority structure, where the Mahmuda Group dictates how people live, work, and settle disputes.
Authorities Remain Silent as Tensions Grow
Despite rising violence and community outcry, security agencies have not released any official statements acknowledging the group’s presence. This silence has deepened public concern, with many residents suspecting that the militants may have access to advanced weaponry and external support.
Without clear action from federal or state governments, locals fear that the Mahmuda Group will continue expanding its influence unchecked.
Urgent Intervention Needed to Prevent Wider Crisis
The emergence of this group highlights a dangerous security gap in Nigeria’s rural regions. If left unchallenged, the Mahmuda Group could destabilize even more communities and solidify its grip on strategic parts of the country.
Residents are calling on authorities to respond swiftly and decisively before the group becomes an entrenched threat to national security. Immediate action is critical to restore governance, protect lives, and reclaim the occupied territories from militant control.
