In a chilling revelation that underscores the deepening insecurity in parts of North Central Nigeria, the Emir of Yashikira, His Royal Highness, Ambassador (Dr) Alhaji Umar Sariki Usman, Sabikpassi II, has accused Nigerian military personnel deployed to his domain of consistently fleeing and abandoning their posts whenever terrorists strike.
In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Monday afternoon, the visibly disheartened monarch painted a dire picture of the security situation in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, lamenting that soldiers often “drop their motorcycles and run” at the first sound of gunfire.
> “They have been with us for long, but in most cases, they cannot do much because they are not properly equipped. If you see them, you’ll realise they are just young boys, fresh from training. They cannot engage in serious combat. That is why they always abandon their motorcycles and flee whenever the terrorists attack,” the Emir stated.
Despite repeated promises of reinforcement from the government, the monarch said his people are yet to witness any tangible security upgrade. Instead, the burden of protecting vulnerable communities has now fallen on local vigilante groups, many of whom are poorly trained and dangerously under-equipped.
> “We are still waiting for the deployment of more security personnel as promised. Government officials came, assessed the situation, and left. Till now, nothing. The only protection we have are the local vigilantes scattered across the villages. But we all know, if there’s another major attack, we cannot defend ourselves,” the monarch lamented.
The Emir’s distressing account adds to the growing concerns over the unchecked activities of the Mahmuda terrorist group, which has unleashed a wave of terror across rural communities in Kwara and neighbouring Niger State.
The group is believed to operate from within the vast, ungoverned Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), a sprawling sanctuary that stretches across Kwara, Niger, and parts of Kebbi State. The militants have overrun communities such as Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu in Kaiama LGA and numerous villages within the Yashikira district in Baruten LGA.
In Niger State, the terror network has seized control of Babana and Wawa districts in Borgu LGA.
One of their bloodiest attacks occurred recently in Kemanji, where heavily armed militants ambushed a local vigilante base, killing over 15 security volunteers and civilians.
> “They call themselves the Mahmuda group. Their leader has been sending out voice notes, threatening entire communities. They kill, abduct and extort ransom with no fear of consequence,” a source familiar with their operations told SaharaReporters.
According to security observers and community insiders, the absence of government control in the KLNP region has transformed it into a haven for criminality. The vacuum created by the lack of security has allowed militants to establish dominion over vast forest reserves, where they now coordinate operations, train recruits, and generate revenue.
One local source described how an unlikely alliance was formed between timber merchants and the militants.
> “Initially, the loggers clashed with the militants and vigilantes. But eventually, they cut a deal with the terrorists. Now, loggers have unhindered access to harvest trees — and in return, militants profit from the activity, using it to fund their operations,” the source explained.
This underground economy is fueling the insurgency, enriching the terrorists while further endangering innocent civilians whose farms, homes, and livelihoods now sit at the mercy of armed men.
A Nation in Peril
The Emir’s outcry is one of many from traditional rulers across the country who find themselves presiding over communities under siege. The failure of security forces to respond effectively, coupled with the rising number of ungoverned spaces, is pushing rural Nigeria to the brink.
> “The surge in insecurity is destroying livelihoods and spreading fear. With new militant groups springing up in ungoverned territories, the threat to national cohesion and rural survival is very real,” another analyst told SaharaReporters.
As the people of Yashikira and other affected regions brace for more uncertainty, the call for urgent and effective intervention has never been more deafening. The question remains — will the Nigerian state rise to the occasion, or will its citizens be left to fend for themselves in a war they never signed up for?
PIONEER NEWS 