A newly-formed militant group called Mahmuda has taken control of several rural communities around Kainji Lake National Park in North Central Nigeria, spreading fear and violence in Kwara and Niger States.
The group, which reportedly operates in areas like Kaiama Local Government Area and parts of Baruten Local Government Area in Kwara, as well as Babana and Wawa districts in Niger State, has been terrorizing locals with deadly attacks and kidnappings.
On Wednesday, the group launched an attack on a vigilante group in Kemanji, killing more than 15 people, including members of the local community.
The militants, who are said to demand ransom for kidnap victims, have been targeting both civilians and security forces.
They are also reported to have disrupted the livelihoods of people living around Kainji Lake National Park, previously a place for logging, fishing, and hunting.
The group’s rise has been linked to earlier displacement from Mokwa Local Government Area, after being accused of having ties to Boko Haram.
They are now believed to be operating more organized and heavily armed, possibly with support from militant groups in neighboring countries.
Despite their violent actions, the militants use religious rhetoric to justify their activities and maintain control over the local population.
Locals living under their rule report having to pay fees for grazing cattle, working on militant-controlled farms, and even following their laws on roadblocks, alcohol, and local disputes.
The group has also been linked to illegal mining and other unlawful activities.
Some vigilantes, faced with limited government support, have even been forced to work with the militants to rescue kidnapped victims.
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