A newly emerged militant group known as Mahmuda has reportedly seized control of several rural communities surrounding Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), which stretches across parts of Kwara and Niger States in North Central Nigeria.
According to SaharaReporters, the group now operates freely in various settlements within Kaiama Local Government Area—including Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu—and also in parts of Yashikira District in Baruten LGA of Kwara State. In Niger State, their presence is felt in the Babana and Wawa districts of Borgu LGA.
On Wednesday, the militants allegedly ambushed a local vigilante group in Kemanji, killing over 15 people, including both vigilantes and villagers.
Locals say the group refers to itself as the Mahmuda group and is led by a man who has been issuing threats to surrounding communities through audio messages. The group is accused of kidnapping for ransom, killing civilians, and enforcing harsh control over local residents.
Residents trace the group’s roots to about five years ago when they first stormed the Kainji Lake National Park and forced out park rangers. After being evicted from Mokwa LGA by former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu—over alleged links to Boko Haram—the militants relocated to Welele in Kaiama LGA. There, they were again repelled by security forces but later resurfaced inside the national park, better armed and more organized.
The militants have reportedly exploited the vast and largely unguarded KLNP area, once occupied by loggers and hunters, to establish a stronghold. Initially clashing with locals, the group allegedly struck a deal with loggers, who now pay levies in exchange for access to forest resources.
Some locals believe the Mahmuda group may have ties to militant networks from Niger or Benin Republic, while others consider them a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. In a recently obtained audio message, the group referred to themselves as moderate Sunni fighters, calling themselves the Mahmuda or Mallam Group.
Sources report that the group speaks primarily Hausa and has imposed harsh rules across the roughly 3,970-square-kilometre park. Among the conditions now faced by residents are:
- Herders must pay religious levies (zakah) to graze cattle
- Farmers are assigned land in return for payments
- Villagers are compelled to work on farms run by militants
- Kidnappings and ransom demands are common
- The militants control road checkpoints and prohibit alcohol and smoking
- Herbalists face threats if suspected of helping vigilantes
- Illegal mining is also reportedly tied to the group
In addition to using religion to justify their actions, the group reportedly holds regular preaching sessions and intervenes in community disputes to assert dominance.
Due to a lack of confidence in government protection, some local vigilante groups have allegedly cooperated with the Mahmuda group at times to help free kidnap victims. A source mentioned that the group has even expelled rival bandits from the park, punishing or ransoming collaborators.
While the origin of their weapons remains unknown, many locals believe that higher authorities are aware of the group’s operations.
“There is a growing belief among people in the area that those in power know about the presence of these militants,” a source said. “Time will eventually reveal the truth.”
