No fewer than 34 people have been killed in separate attacks on residents in Kwara, Benue and Borno states.

While 15 vigilantes were killed in Kwara, 17 farmers were murdered in Benue, while at least two soldiers and many civilians were shot dead in Borno.

This is just as a new terror group identified as Mahmuda, aka the Mallam Group, emerged in the North Central.

The National Counter-Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser confirmed the emergence of the group to Saturday PUNCH on Friday.

The group, believed to be a breakaway faction of Boko Haram with suspected links to extremist cells in Niger and Mali, has been blamed for a string of kidnappings in rural communities across the North Central.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that Mahmuda killed 15 vigilantes and villagers on Wednesday in an attack on Kemaanji, a community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

According to sources, the group has been carrying out series of attacks, including killings and kidnappings, in rural communities around the Kainji Lake National Park, which spans parts of Kwara and Niger states.

Some communities in Kaiama LGA—including Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu—and those in Yashikira District of Baruten LG in Kwara State were recently attacked by the terror group.

Reports also indicated that Mahmuda had taken control of areas within Babana and Wawa districts of Borgu LG in Niger State.

Confirming the presence of the group in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, said, “Yes, we are aware of that group.”

When asked about efforts taken to contain the group, he said security forces had commenced operations against them, adding, “Some attacks were conducted at their camps some weeks ago.”

Reacting to the development, a security expert, Chidi Omeje, expressed concern over the growing number of terror cells across the country.

He said, “It is like our country has become a fertile ground for all manner of terrorist groups, militias, marauders, bandits, and extremists.”

Omeje attributed the group’s rise to the apparent weakness in the state’s response.

17 farmers killed in Benue

In Benue, no fewer than 17 people were killed in an attack on Gbajir, Chito, Saror, and Mbawar villages in Ukum LGA of the state.

The attack was allegedly carried out by suspected herders who invaded the communities in the Sankera axis of the state with their cattle on Thursday.

The axis, which comprises Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala LGs, has been a flashpoint for criminality in recent times.

Some locals, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on Friday, claimed that many villagers were also killed and injured on Thursday in Tuluv council ward of the local government.

A resident, who identified himself as Tulumn, said, “Some communities in Ukum LGA have been taken over by armed herders with a lot of cows and sheep grazing freely.

“They attacked some villages in Tuluv council ward where they killed many people on Thursday, and many are still missing as of this morning (Friday).”

Confirming the invasion and killings in the communities, the state Commissioner for Information, Mathew Abo, said five bodies were recovered and three were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Zaki Biam.
He confirmed the influx of armed herders into Ukum, stating that there was apprehension in Katsina-Ala and Logo LGs due to the invasion.

Abo said, “It’s true that there is an influx of armed herders, and they came with a lot of cows and sheep grazing freely in Ukum. They killed five people and injured three others, who are receiving treatment in the hospital now.

“The attack, which started on Thursday, lasted till Friday and has spread to Logo LGA, but Katsina-Ala LGA is relatively calm for now.”

The Katsina-Ala Local Government Chairman, Justine Shaku, told journalists on Friday that though the council was calm, the border communities were being threatened by the attack on Ukum.

However, the Benue State Police Command confirmed the death of 17 people in the attacks.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Catherine Anene, in a statement on Friday, said a large number of armed herders invaded the Sankera axis and carried out the attacks.

Anene said five people were killed in Ukum, while 12 were killed in Katsina-Ala.

She said security agents were still engaging the bandits as they retreated to the forest around the Taraba axis.

Boko Haram kills soldiers, civilians in Borno

In Borno, suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed two soldiers and an unconfirmed number of civilians in Yamtake, Gwoza LGA of the state.

Our correspondents gathered from sources that the terrorists stormed the community around 11.30pm on Thursday and operated for more than an hour.

Confirming the incident, the Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, said Yamtake was one of the newly resettled communities.

He said, “It is unfortunate that our people in Yamtake village came under a deadly Boko Haram invasion on Thursday night. It is one of the communities that recently received its Internally Displaced Persons; they were resettled by the Borno State Government.

“It is very sad that two soldiers paid the supreme price, while an unspecified number of innocent civilians were among the casualties. May their gentle souls rest in peace.”

He noted that the terrorists attempted to infiltrate Gwoza town but were repelled by the military.

“On several occasions, troops lay ambushes in and around Gwoza town, which has helped in preventing terrorists who are making all efforts to dislodge the Gwoza people living in the council headquarters.

“In the past one month, several communities in Borno South, North, and Central Senatorial Districts have witnessed deadly Boko Haram attacks without confrontation. The situation is worrisome,” the senator added.

Ndume urged the Federal Government to take decisive action to put an end to the renewed attacks.

ISWAP blows up Yobe bridge

Terrorists suspected to be members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province on Thursday also blew up a bridge linking Ngirbuwa with Gonori town in Gujiba LGA, Yobe State.

A report by a counter-insurgency expert focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, said the attack occurred around 10.30pm.

According to the report, the terrorists used an explosive device to destroy the remaining part of the bridge.



https://punchng.com/fresh-attacks-claim-34-lives-as-new-terror-group-emerges/