New Terror Group Mahmuda Emerges In North-Central Nigeria, Killing Over 15 Vigilantes.
A new militant group, known as Mahmuda, has emerged in North-Central Nigeria, spreading fear and violence across rural communities near the Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), which spans parts of Kwara and Niger States. According to reports from SaharaReporters, the group launched a deadly attack on Wednesday in Kemanji, Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, killing over 15 vigilantes and villagers.
The Mahmuda group, which has reportedly been active for over five years, operates freely in communities such as Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu in Kaiama, as well as villages in Baruten Local Government Area’s Yashikira District in Kwara. The militants have also taken control of areas in Babana and Wawa Districts in Borgu Local Government, Niger State. Sources indicate that the group has exploited the unguarded expanse of the 3,970 sq. km Kainji Lake National Park, previously a hub for loggers, fishermen, and hunters, to establish a stronghold.
“They call themselves the Mahmuda group. Their leader, in a voice note, is threatening all the communities. They kill and kidnap victims and also demand ransom,” a local source told SaharaReporters. The group’s activities include extortion, with herders in the park forced to pay dues to graze their cattle, and loggers negotiating safe passage to harvest timber, providing a revenue stream for the militants. Unconfirmed reports also suggest the group may be involved in illegal mining within the park.
The Mahmuda group’s origins remain unclear, with some locals speculating ties to militant cells from Benin or Niger Republic, while others believe they are a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. A recent audiotape from the group’s leader, who claims to be a moderate Islamist, suggests an ideological alignment with Sunni jihadist causes, referring to the group as the “Mahmuda or Mallam Group.” The militants primarily speak Hausa and have been recruiting locals as informants, further entrenching their control.
In a disturbing development, the group has sought to legitimise its presence by preaching Islamic ethics to communities, urging disloyalty to the Nigerian state, and positioning itself as mediators in local disputes. This tactic, coupled with a lack of trust in government security forces, has led some vigilante groups to reluctantly cooperate with the militants to rescue kidnapped victims. The group has reportedly displaced bandits from the park, either collecting ransoms or executing those deemed complicit in banditry.
The attack on the vigilante group in Kemanji underscores the growing threat posed by Mahmuda. The militants have also targeted herbalists, whom they accuse of fortifying vigilantes against them, further intimidating local communities. The Nigerian Tribune reported that the group’s unchecked operations have left residents living at the mercy of these non-state actors, exacerbating the region’s security crisis.
The emergence of Mahmuda adds to Nigeria’s complex security challenges, which include the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and separatist agitation in the South-East. The Nigerian government’s struggle to secure ungoverned spaces, such as the Kainji Lake National Park, has allowed groups like Mahmuda to thrive. A source lamented, “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.”
Posts on X reflect public alarm, with users expressing frustration and fear over the rise of yet another armed group in Nigeria’s North. Some have called for urgent government action, while others have voiced concerns about the broader implications for national security.
The Nigerian military and security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the Mahmuda group’s activities or the Kemanji attack. As the situation develops, residents in affected areas remain on edge, with calls growing for a robust response to reclaim control of the region from this emerging threat.
