A previously unknown terrorist group identified as Mahmuda has surfaced in Duruma, a community within Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, sparking a new wave of insecurity in Nigeria’s North Central region.
According to investigative reports by Sahara Reporters, the group carried out a deadly assault on the community in the early hours of Tuesday, June 3, 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least three residents.
Eyewitnesses and local sources confirmed that the attack extended beyond Duruma village. Several communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, including Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu, were also reportedly impacted by the violence. Similarly, villages in the Yashikira District of Baruten LGA were affected, signaling a broadening of the group’s operational scope.
The wave of violence didn’t stop in Kwara State. Residents in Babana and Wawa Districts of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, also came under attack, suggesting coordinated efforts by the Mahmuda group across state lines.
Local residents have described the situation as deeply alarming. Many families have fled their homes in a desperate attempt to avoid further bloodshed. In Kemanji, one resident revealed that the community is now effectively under the control of the Mahmuda militants.
"Everyone is living in fear rich or poor, it doesn't matter. Their presence has changed everything," he said, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
Another villager explained that the group had previously lived undisturbed in the dense forests surrounding the area. However, a military operation during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of several Mahmuda fighters, may have provoked the group’s recent violent retaliation.
“They didn’t bother us before,” the source said. “But after the Nigerian Army launched an operation during Ramadan and killed some of their members, they started attacking our villages. Now the soldiers have left, and we’ve been abandoned to our fate.”
The emergence of Mahmuda adds to the growing list of insurgent and armed groups threatening peace and security in Nigeria’s northern and central regions. So far, there has been no official statement from security agencies regarding the recent attacks or any plans to counter the group’s growing influence.
Residents are calling on federal and state authorities to urgently intervene and restore order before the violence spreads further.
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