The Kwara State Police Command on Saturday described as unfounded the report that a new terror group, Mahmuda, was operating in the state.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement, described the publication claiming the operations of the terrorist group in Kwara State as misleading and inciting.
“The Kwara State Police Command categorically refutes the recent publication alleging the emergence of a terror group named Mahmuda within Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of Kwara State.
“Our comprehensive and continuous threat assessments, intelligence surveillance, and tactical reconnaissance operations in these areas have yielded no evidence of insurgent activity, coordinated terrorist formations, or mass casualty incidents as described.
“The claim of 15 vigilantes being killed is entirely false and devoid of any factual basis,” Ejire-Adeyem said.
The Command assured the public that all security formations within the State remained proactive and personnel 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,” the statement added.
While recognising the volatile nature of cross-border movements around the Kainji Lake National Park, the Kwara State Police Command said it maintained effective situational control across all border communities.
“We urge members of the public and media outlets to refrain from spreading unverified information capable of generating unnecessary panic,” the PPRO said.
It further noted that the Kwara Police Command under its commissioner, CP Adekimi Ojo remains committed to safeguarding lives and property while encouraging the citizens to report any suspicious activity through official channels for prompt response.
