Terrorists suspected to be members of the Mahmuda sect have attacked Kemanji Village in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The attackers slaughtered one person and reportedly abducted an unknown number of residents. A source who spoke on Monday said the gunmen stormed the village in the early hours, unleashing terror on the locals. Although the exact number of those kidnapped could not be confirmed, the source revealed that several people may have been taken away by the assailants. This incident adds to a growing list of attacks across Kwara North and South Senatorial Districts, where bandits have repeatedly targeted rural communities. Local governments such as Kaiama, Edu, Baruten in the north, and Ifelodun, Irepodun, and Ekiti in the south, have witnessed escalating violence in recent months, with several residents killed and ransom demands becoming a common occurrence. Meanwhile, the residents in affected communities continue to live in fear. On June 30, 2025, It was exclusively reported 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. The Emir of Yashikira, His Royal Highness, Amb (Dr) Alhaji Umar Sariki Usman, Sabikpassi II, made this known during an exclusive interview, 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.”