A new terrorist group, Mahmuda, is reportedly planning a covert escape from Nigeria into the Benin Republic, using border communities in Kwara State, as security forces intensify military action in the northwest. A source, familiar with the situation, raised concerns about the group’s movement and urged for immediate government intervention.
According to intelligence gathered, Mahmuda members are attempting to flee through the Baruteen Local Government Area after realizing that their usual routes to the northwestern parts of Nigeria have been blocked by military forces. Previously accessible routes through Kosubosu, Kaiama, Wawa, and Gwarapa have been closed off by security forces, forcing the group to seek alternate escape routes through communities such as Gwanara and Tabira, which are directly connected to the Benin Republic.
A security source emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling for local vigilantes, district heads, and the governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to collaborate with security agencies. “If areas like Gwanara and Tabira are blocked, they will have no escape route,” the source warned.
The group’s escape attempt follows a deadly attack carried out by the Mahmuda group on Ilesha Baruba in the Baruteen Local Government Area just three days earlier. Armed with sophisticated weapons and dressed in what appeared to be Nigerian Army uniforms, the attackers launched their assault after Isha prayer on Monday. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with residents running for their lives as the gunmen opened fire. The attack left several casualties, and the horrifying aftermath was captured in disturbing video footage.
Eyewitnesses, including Umar Faruq, a local resident, recalled how they initially mistook the attackers for security personnel due to their military attire, only to realize they were under attack moments later. The traditional ruler of the area, Turaki of Ilesha Baruba, condemned the killings, describing the assault as an attack on the community’s peace and sovereignty.
The source reiterated the importance of community-based security forces, including forest guards, to track down the terrorists before they can flee to the Benin Republic, warning that once they cross the border, their whereabouts would be difficult to trace.
As the situation develops, local authorities and security agencies are under increasing pressure to prevent the terrorists from escaping and to secure the region against further attacks.
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