A newly-formed terrorist faction known as Mahmuda has unleashed a fresh wave of violence in Kwara State, leaving at least seven villagers dead following coordinated attacks on rural settlements in Baruten Local Government Area (LGA) on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
According to credible local sources, heavily armed members of the group stormed Karonji and Duruma villages late Tuesday evening, opening fire indiscriminately as panicked residents fled into surrounding forests for safety. The surprise assault has left the affected communities in a state of fear and uncertainty.
A resident who requested anonymity for security reasons revealed that four people were confirmed dead in the latest attack, following the earlier killing of three villagers during a separate morning raid in the same region.
“There is total confusion in the community. Sporadic gunshots are still being heard, and four more people have just been killed, bringing today’s death toll to seven,” the source said.
Terror Surge in North Central Nigeria
The Mahmuda group has been escalating its violent operations across North Central Nigeria, particularly targeting vulnerable rural communities within and around the Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) a region that stretches across parts of Kwara and neighbouring Niger State.
In Kaiama LGA, residents of villages such as Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu have reportedly suffered similar attacks in recent weeks, with many people displaced from their homes and farmlands. These assaults have sparked widespread fear and have severely disrupted agricultural activities in the region.
Likewise, communities within the Yashikira District of Baruten LGA continue to face recurring threats, as Mahmuda insurgents persist in their campaign of terror, forcing entire households to flee in search of safety.
Terrorist Presence Expands in Niger State
In the neighbouring Niger State, the Mahmuda group has reportedly established a growing operational base in the remote Babana and Wawa districts of Borgu LGA. Security operatives suggest the insurgents are taking advantage of the region’s rugged terrain and weak security infrastructure to entrench themselves further.
Multiple intelligence sources warn that the group is exploiting the lack of government presence in several ungoverned border zones, using these areas as strategic hideouts to launch cross-border attacks into both Kwara and Niger States.
Call for Urgent Security Intervention
Community leaders and civil society groups have called on the federal and state governments to deploy security forces and launch coordinated counter-terror operations to reclaim occupied territories and protect rural populations.
Residents fear that without urgent action, the Mahmuda group may expand its influence and solidify its control over more regions, worsening the already fragile security situation in the North Central geopolitical zone.
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