The Kwara State Police Command on Saturday refuted a recent report alleging the emergence of a terror group called Mahmuda within Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

It Is recalled that newspapers had reported over the weekend that a new terror group, Mahmuda, had been terrorising rural communities and killing people with impunity in the North Central states of Kwara and Niger in recent times.

In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, she stated that comprehensive and continuous threat assessments, intelligence surveillance, and tactical reconnaissance operations conducted by the command in the areas mentioned in the report found no evidence of insurgent activity, coordinated terrorist formations, or mass casualty incidents, as described.

The statement also clarified that the claim of 15 vigilantes being killed in the report was false and devoid of any factual basis.

“We wish to assure the public that all security formations within Kwara State remain proactive and are strategically deployed under a multi-agency operational framework involving the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with other sister security agencies.

“No breach of internal security has been reported or observed in the aforementioned communities. Furthermore, our community engagement structures, including Vigilante Commanders and District Heads, have not relayed any such incidents, which confirms this publication to be misleading and inciting.

“While we recognise the volatile nature of cross-border movements around the Kainji Lake National Park, the Kwara State Police Command has maintained effective situational control across all border communities.”

The Police Command urged members of the public and media outlets to refrain from spreading unverified information capable of generating unnecessary panic.

“The Kwara Police Command, under the leadership of CP Adekimi Ojo, remains committed to safeguarding lives and property and encourages citizens to report any suspicious activity through official channels for prompt response.” (Saturday Tribune)