In a decisive move to prevent the spread of insurgency, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Olufemi Oluyede, has issued a one-month ultimatum to Nigerian troops to eliminate a new terrorist group in Kwara State. The directive targets the Mahmouda terror group reportedly hiding in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas.
According to a 9am News report, the army chief issued the command while addressing soldiers at Sobi Barracks in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. His visit aimed to motivate the troops and ensure swift and strategic deployment to the affected regions.
Lt. Gen. Oluyede stated that the presence of the Mahmouda group near Kainji Dam poses a significant threat and must be stamped out before the situation escalates. “You’re out here, and I know you can do it. Make sure those people (bandits) leave that place for us,” he told the troops.
He stressed that Nigeria could not afford another wave of terrorism like Boko Haram. “If they want to enter another country, that is their business, but you must push them out of those forests so we will not have another set of Boko Haram disturbing us here,” Oluyede said.
The Kwara State security situation remains under control, according to the COAS, who described the issue as an “isolated case.” He expressed confidence that within the next month, no trace of the Mahmouda terror group would be found around the Kainji Dam area.
“I can tell you, in the next one month, things will be different. What is happening in Kwara cannot be threatening the sanity in Nigeria generally; it’s just an isolated case and we’ll deal with it directly,” he told journalists.
The Nigerian Army’s renewed mission underscores the administration’s zero-tolerance stance toward emerging terror threats. With President Tinubu’s security doctrine emphasizing swift response and territorial integrity, the operation in Kwara fits squarely into ongoing national efforts to restore and maintain peace.
While the Mahmouda terror group remains relatively unknown, security analysts say its emergence highlights the need for increased surveillance and inter-agency coordination in border communities.
As troops gear up for this operation, citizens in Kwara and neighboring regions remain hopeful that the Nigerian Army will dismantle this threat before it expands.
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