A fresh wave of fear has swept through Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State following another violent attack by a recently emerged terror group known as Mahmuda. The group struck Duruma village in the early hours of Tuesday, killing three residents before fleeing.
Local sources confirmed the incident took place while community hunters—key to grassroots security—were away in Ilorin for training under the Federal Government’s new National Forest Guard initiative. With their absence, the attackers moved in undisturbed. The victims were later buried according to local customs.
Despite a military presence in the broader area, the assailants managed to escape before reinforcements arrived. Eyewitnesses say soldiers later fired shots into the air after the terrorists had already left.
This is not the first time the Mahmuda group has targeted rural communities in Kwara. Just last week, the group reportedly burned down a farm settlement nearby. Their growing influence has already been felt in several villages across Kaiama and Baruten LGAs, including Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu. In neighboring Niger State, residents say the group has taken control of entire communities in Babana and Wawa districts of Borgu Local Government Area.
A resident from Kemanji expressed concern over the growing threat, explaining that the terrorists now control his community. He warned that their slow spread mirrors how similar conflicts began in other northern states.
The recent violence follows earlier efforts by the military to curb rising insecurity. In April, the Chief of Army Staff visited the region and stationed troops in nearby forests, leading to the arrest of 12 suspected terrorists. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also supported local hunters with 25 motorcycles to improve their mobility and cooperation with soldiers.
However, these measures seem to have offered only temporary relief. Attempts to reach the Kwara State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson did not return multiple calls.
Residents are now pleading with both state and federal authorities to accelerate the deployment of forest guards and strengthen rural security before more lives are lost.
