A new terrorist group identified as Mahmuda is reportedly planning a covert escape from Nigeria into the Benin Republic through border communities in Kwara State, as military operations intensify across the country....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
An exclusive audio recording obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday morning has revealed a serious security threat emerging from the Baruten Local Government Area.
According to a top security source, the group is seeking alternative routes out of Nigeria after finding their previously used corridors blocked by security forces.
“Intelligence reaching me indicates that the Mahmuda terrorist group, due to actions they suspect are about to be taken against them, are now plotting to flee into the Benin Republic,” the source disclosed.
The group had previously accessed northwestern Nigeria via routes through Kosubosu, Kaiama, Wawa, and Gwarapa—pathways now rendered inaccessible due to heightened military presence. Security personnel are said to be combat-ready across those locations.
The source issued an urgent call to action to government authorities and local leadership.
“This is a call to all district heads in these border communities to instruct their local vigilantes to be on high alert. The governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, must urgently mobilize security agencies,” he said.
He also called on top military officers, including the Chief of Army Staff and the Commander of Sobi Barracks in Ilorin, to coordinate efforts to seal off border routes through Gwanara, Tabira, and other vulnerable communities.
“If these exits are blocked, the terrorists will have no escape route,” he added.
Forest guards and local security teams have also been urged to heighten patrols, particularly along the Tabira-Gwanara axis, which directly links to the Benin Republic.
“The government must act now. Once they cross the border, it becomes difficult to trace them,” the source emphasized.
The warning comes just three days after the Mahmuda group allegedly launched a deadly attack on Ilesha Baruba, also in Baruten LGA.
Witnesses said the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons and wore military camouflage, raising suspicions of impersonation.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assault occurred shortly after Isha prayers on Monday, with the gunmen arriving via motorcycles along the main highway that connects the town to the state capital.
A harrowing video showed victims lying in pools of blood as residents wailed in the background. Many described the incident as a well-orchestrated “terror operation.”
Umar Faruq, a survivor of the attack, recounted his experience: “They came in soldier uniforms. At first, we thought they were here for a patrol, but within minutes, they opened fire on innocent people. It was like a war zone.”
The Turaki of Ilesha Baruba, a local traditional leader, confirmed the attack and condemned it as a brutal assault on the community’s peace and sovereignty.
“This is not just an attack on individuals. It’s a message that we are not safe. Our people are living in fear. We call on the government to act fast,” he said.