EXCLUSIVE: New Terrorist Group, Mahmuda Plotting To Establish Independent Government In Kwara, Collect Zakat, Allocate Lands — Emir

The new terrorist group known as Mahmuda is reportedly seeking to establish an independent government within the forest areas of Kwara State, collecting Zakat (Islamic tax), allocating lands, and enforcing their laws on communities, SaharaReporters has learnt.

The Emir of Yashikira, His Royal Highness, Amb (Dr) Alhaji Umar Sariki Usman, Sabikpassi II, made this known during an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, raising serious concerns about the growing threats posed by the armed group operating within the Kainji Lake National Park corridor.

“You know the national park is the one that is occupied by Mahmuda Lakurawa group, and this national park go round Niger State, Kwara State, and Kebbi. In Baruten Local Government Area, they are mostly affecting Yashikira Emirate. We share a border with Kaiama and Niger State,” the traditional ruler said.

“Our problem is that they are actually forming an independent government in the forest. I mean they are having their own laws. When you are near them, or if you are within that forest, you have to abide by their own rules and regulations. Their own Islamic laws. You are to pay their tax. You are to pay the Zakat to them. They are the ones that will allocate lands to you.”

He added: “These were happening before. But now it has been reduced. They claimed they have disappeared but that does not mean they are totally gone. They might have gone into hiding and we don’t know what is happening next.”

“They were making the laws. We can’t say they have gone totally because periodically they do attack the people along the road, they even kidnapped some people. The people may even be the ones that have one deal or the other with them. It may be people that are owing them money. They may be people that do supply them with food items or whatever.”

SaharaReporters had in April reported the emergence of the Mahmuda terror group in parts of North Central Nigeria, where they have been wreaking havoc on rural communities across Kwara and Niger states.

The group operates around the expansive Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), a vast ungoverned terrain shared by Kwara, Niger, and parts of Kebbi State. Communities affected in Kwara include Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu in Kaiama Local Government Area, and several villages within the Yashikira district of Baruteen Local Government Area.

In Niger State, Babana and Wawa Districts in Borgu Local Government Area were also  overtaken by the terror group.

In one of their deadliest recent operations, militants from the Mahmuda group attacked a local vigilante unit in Kemanji, killing over 15 members and villagers.

“They call 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 familiar with the group’s activities had told SaharaReporters.

Another source said the growing insecurity across Nigeria, especially the occupation of ungoverned spaces by armed groups, poses grave threats to national security and rural livelihoods.

“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 said.

“With the Kainji Lake National Park left unguarded, the loggers, fishermen, and hunter groups take the opportunity and start enjoying the common good of the citizens for their personal gain.”

He explained how economic actors like timber merchants eventually struck a deal with the militants: “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 and this as well serves as the biggest opportunity for the militants to make money through the logging activities.”