The government of Benin Republic has ordered the closure of its border with parts of Nigeria’s Kwara State, citing security concerns, including alleged arms smuggling and the rise of a new terror group named “Mahmuda.”
Sources informed SaharaReporters that on Tuesday, May 7, 2025, President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic directed the total shutdown of the border crossing between Taberu, a community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, and Tanu, its neighbouring village in Benin Republic.
A local security official confirmed the development, stating:
“On May 7, 2025, the President of Benin ordered the closure of the Taberu-Tanu border, halting the movement of goods and people between the two countries in that corridor.”
A video circulating online alleged that the decision followed credible intelligence reports pointing to a recurring illegal arms pipeline. The footage claims that arms and ammunition are frequently smuggled from Parakou, the capital of Borgou Department in Benin Republic, into Nigerian territory—sometimes via helicopter drops.
The unnamed narrator in the video added:
“Weapons are often transported by air from Parakou into Nigeria, but their final destinations remain unknown. The volume of arms entering the country is alarming.”
The same source further explained that the Taberu-Tanu route, a critical connection between Nigeria and Benin Republic, had been blocked by unidentified individuals, effectively sealing off cross-border access through the area.
“That road is the only accessible link between Taberu in Nigeria and Tanu in Benin. It has now been barricaded. No official explanation has been given,” the narrator claimed.
The border closure is reportedly linked to concerns over a new militant group, Mahmuda, which is believed to be behind a recent surge in cross-border violence and illegal weapons trafficking.
When contacted about the development, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, told SaharaReporters:
“I will verify the situation and provide updates. It’s not something I can comment on conclusively without concrete information.”
This development has heightened regional security concerns, particularly in northern Kwara State and neighbouring Beninese villages, where trade and movement have been abruptly disrupted.
Saharareporters
