A new terrorist group called as ‘Mahmuda’ has reportedly launched a fresh attack on Duruma village [Karonji] in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
It was gathered that the terrorist group, which has been operating in border communities of Kwara and Niger States, carried out the attack on Friday evening.
According to Sahara Reporters, upon arrival at the village on motorcycles, members of the group started shooting indiscriminately.
The report said the terrorists burnt a vehicle and some motorcycles belonging to a local vigilante group in the community.
Following the development, residents of the community expressed worry about additional attacks in the area.
“This was what the Mahmuda boys did yesterday in the Duruma village. Two of the militants were killed during the attack as well,” a resident of the community told the newspaper.
“The militants were only able to set fire to motorcycles and a car belonging to our local security operatives. They were repelled by them.”
It was further gathered that the terror group had been disrupting the peace of communities around the Kainji Lake National Park, KLNP.
The affected communities are in Kaiama Local Government Area Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, Nanu) and Barutein Local Government Area [villages in Yashikira District], both in Kwara.
According to multiple sources, the group had also taken over communities in Babbana and Wawa District in Borgu Local Government in Niger.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State command of the Nigerian Police Force has dismissed reports of the resurgence of the terror groups Kaiama and Baruten local government.
A statement issued by the command spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command “categorically refutes the recent publication alleging the emergence of a terror group named Mahmuda within Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of Kwara State”.
The statement reads, “Our comprehensive and continuous threat assessments, intelligence surveillance, and tactical reconnaissance operations in these areas have yielded no evidence of insurgent activity, coordinated terrorist formations, or mass casualty incidents as described.
“The claim of 15 vigilantes being killed is entirely false and devoid of any factual basis.”
The statement assured the public “that all security formations within Kwara State remain proactive and are strategically deployed under a multi-agency operational framework involving the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with other sister security agencies.
“No breach of internal security has been reported or observed in the aforementioned communities.
“Furthermore, our community engagement structures, including Vigilante Commanders and District Heads, have not relayed any such incidents, which confirms this publication to be misleading and inciting.
“While we recognise the volatile nature of cross-border movements around the Kainji Lake National Park, the Kwara State Police Command has maintained effective situational control across all border communities.
“We urge members of the public and media outlets to refrain from spreading unverified information capable of generating unnecessary panic.
“The Kwara Police Command, under the leadership of CP Adekimi Ojo, remains committed to safeguarding lives and properties and encourages citizens to report any suspicious activity through official channels for prompt response.”
