By peterside Rejoice Eneky
A newly emerged terrorist group known as Mahmuda has launched another deadly assault in Kwara State, killing three villagers in Duruma, Baruten Local Government Area, early Tuesday morning.
The attack is believed to have exploited the temporary absence of local hunters, who are currently undergoing weapon-handling training in Ilorin under the newly established National Forest Guard initiative.
Community sources told the premier news that the victims were attacked and slaughtered in the early hours of the day and were buried immediately by grieving residents. Despite military presence in the region following an earlier operation that led to the arrest of twelve suspected terrorists in April, the group continues to pose a threat to rural communities.
Eyewitnesses say soldiers arrived at the scene after the attack, firing warning shots into the air, but the assailants had already fled.
“The local hunters that have been assisting the soldiers are away in Ilorin for training, and the terrorists noticed,” said a local resident who requested anonymity. “That was how they managed to carry out this evil act.”
In recent months, Mahmuda has been increasingly active in the North Central region, particularly around Kainji Lake National Park. In April, following a visit by the Chief of Army Staff, soldiers were deployed to root out the group, and local authorities, including Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, provided logistics such as motorcycles to support the hunters.
Despite these efforts, locals insist that the group remains embedded in the forests, only subdued by the joint presence of hunters and soldiers.
“They’ve taken control of several communities,” said another resident. “Kemanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu are all affected in Kaiama LGA. They’re also in Babana and Wawa in Niger State’s Borgu LGA.”
Sources warn that the insurgents are encroaching closer to Kaiama town just 10 kilometers from some occupied villages raising fears of further violence.
One week earlier, the group reportedly set fire to a farm settlement, continuing a pattern of destruction and intimidation.
Efforts to reach the Kwara State Police Command for official comment were unsuccessful. The command’s spokesperson, SP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, did not respond to repeated calls.
The rise of Mahmuda underscores the persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s rural areas, even as authorities expand counter-terrorism initiatives such as the National Forest Guard.
Residents continue to call for stronger protection and a more sustained military presence to prevent further loss of life and displacement.
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