A dangerous new militant group identified as the Mahmuda Group has emerged in North Central Nigeria, intensifying the region’s insecurity and posing a serious threat to rural communities, especially those surrounding the Kainji Lake National Park. The group is reportedly operating with little resistance and has seized control of multiple areas across Kwara and Niger States.
The Kainji Lake National Park, a vast stretch of protected land that cuts across parts of Kwara and Niger States, has increasingly become a stronghold for the group. Residents in communities around the park say they are now living in fear and under the rule of the heavily armed militants, who kill, kidnap, collect ransom, and impose harsh rules.
Communities said to be worst affected include those in Kaiama Local Government Area such as Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu. Others include villages in the Yashikira District of Baruten Local Government Area, also in Kwara State. In Niger State, Babana and Wawa District in Borgu Local Government Area have also reportedly been taken over by the group.
On a recent Wednesday, members of a local vigilante group and some villagers were killed in Kemanji after militants struck without warning. Reports indicate that over 15 lives were lost in the attack.
“They called themselves Mahmuda group. Their leader in a voice note is threatening all the communities. They kill and kidnap victims and also demand ransom,” a source revealed.
Another resident said the rise in militant activity is a reflection of the growing insecurity in Nigeria, especially in rural and unguarded areas. “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 and occupy the ungoverned spaces in the country,” the source stated.
Locals believe the absence of security personnel in the park has encouraged illegal activities like logging, hunting, and fishing. Over time, this lawlessness created opportunities for militant groups to infiltrate the park.
“At the beginning there was a clash between the loggers and the militants as well as the vigilantes, but the loggers negotiated with the militants, and the loggers gained access to the forest to harvest trees without any hitches. This as well serves as the biggest opportunity for the militant to make money through the logging activities,” said one source.
Currently, areas surrounding the Kainji Lake National Park, which include several communities in Kwara and Niger States, have reportedly been under siege for years. Locals lament that little attention is paid to their suffering and the growing power of the militants.
“The militants occupied the park visibly over five years ago when they raided the park and chased the Range Guard out of the park. They migrated from Mokwa LGA when they were chased away by the then Governor of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu. He accused them of being members of Boko Haram,” the source explained.
Following their eviction from Mokwa, the group relocated to Welele village in Kaiama LGA but was again driven out by a joint effort between the local government and security forces. The militants then reportedly moved to a forest in Kaduna State before re-emerging stronger in Kainji National Park, where they have since gained ground.
“Thus, who are these new militant groups? Some people claim that the militant group came from the Benin Republic or Niger Republic. This claim is also similar to a report from BBC Radio that there was an influx of militant groups to Kainji Lake National Park. Further study of them will reveal the true identity of this faceless group,” another source said.
According to voice recordings circulating in the region, the group’s leader claims to be a moderate Islamist. This has led some to believe the group is a splinter faction of Boko Haram, distinct from the violent Shekau-led faction.
“However, a recent audiotape record from the militant claims to be a moderate Islamist. This assertion confirms that they are a sect of Boko Haram that broke away from the Shekau-led extremist group. Regrettably, the locals are gradually being recruited into their ranks as informants. They referred to themselves as the Mahmuda Group or Mallam Group, their leader’s name and a jihadist fighting to promote the cause of the Sunni group,” the source noted.
The militants are said to communicate primarily in Hausa and now control a large part of the national park, which spans roughly 3,970 square kilometres. Community members describe a grim reality of living under their rule.
“First, the herders within the park pay dues (zakah) to the militants to allow them to graze their cattle. Second, the farmers to whom the militant allocates farmland within the forest also pay farming levies to the militants. Third, the militants forced the residents to work on their farm as sadaka. Fourth, members of the community are kidnapped and made to pay ransom. Fifth, illegal mounting of roadblocks along the community, and regulating the social activities, particularly the sale of alcohol and all forms of smoking, and even settling disputes among the community’s members,” the source explained.
“Sixth, the militants threaten the existence of herbalists that they assume are fortifying the community vigilante members to confront them. Unconfirmed reports also have it that the Mahmuda Group or Mallam Group is into illegal mining in the park environment,” the source added.
To create an impression of religious legitimacy, the militants are said to regularly organise Islamic preaching sessions where they promote disloyalty to the Nigerian state. They also order that all disputes must be reported to them for resolution, further undermining traditional and legal authorities in the region.
“In their ploy to deceive the people with religion, they timely gather community members to preach about Islamic ethics as well as persuade community members to be disloyal to the Nigerian state and also instruct that any disputes within the community must be reported to them,” a resident noted.
Due to the lack of faith in formal security agencies, some members of the local vigilante groups have reportedly collaborated with the militants in hopes of rescuing kidnapped residents or driving out rival criminal groups. This uneasy cooperation, however, has not brought lasting peace.
“The loss of trust in the security agent to address the insecurity challenges in the area makes the vigilante group work hand in hand with the Mahmuda Group to rescue kidnapped victims from the bandits. The group was able to force out all the bandits from the park area, and their collaborators within the communities were kidnapped to their place, and ransom was collected, or those judged to be more involved in the act of banditry were slaughtered,” one source claimed.
Among residents, there is growing speculation that higher authorities may be aware of the group’s presence, yet have taken no visible action. Many suspect that the group’s access to advanced weapons has made it difficult for security forces to challenge their control.
“The assumption among the locals is that the militant group present in the National Park is known to the authority above, but by whom? Guess time will tell. To some, it’s simply because of the sophisticated weapons in their possession, which makes it practically difficult for them to be dislodged from the national asset,” the source concluded.
As the Mahmuda Group continues to tighten its grip on rural communities, fears grow over what the future holds for those living in the vast areas now under militant occupation.
