At least 50 people have been killed after armed men attacked Binnari village in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, with the death toll rising as residents searched nearby bushes and a river for missing people.
The attack occurred on Friday, October 23, when gunmen riding motorcycles stormed the rural community shortly after Muslim prayers, opened fire and looted shops and homes, according to survivors and local accounts reported by media outlets.
The Taraba State Police Command initially reported that 10 bodies bearing gunshot wounds had been recovered. The toll subsequently rose to at least 50, according to residents, while Amnesty International Nigeria reported a higher figure of 52 as searches continued.
Residents said many people, including women and children, fled towards a nearby river to escape the attackers. Some reportedly drowned while trying to flee, while others were killed by gunfire. Several bodies were later recovered from the river and surrounding bushes.
The attackers also reportedly looted food and other supplies and set shops and motorcycles ablaze. The full extent of the damage and the number of people still missing were not immediately clear.
Police said additional personnel were placed on alert, while joint reinforcement teams involving police tactical units, mobile police and the Nigerian Army were deployed to the area. Officers continued searches as authorities worked to restore calm.
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas condemned the killings and called on security agencies to take urgent steps to protect residents and apprehend those responsible, according to a statement reported by Channels Television.
Amnesty International Nigeria called for an impartial investigation and stronger protection for rural communities facing repeated attacks. The organisation criticised what it described as the authorities’ failure to adequately protect residents and bring suspected perpetrators to justice.
Taraba lies in a region affected by overlapping security challenges, including attacks by armed criminal groups commonly referred to as bandits. Such groups have targeted rural communities, looted property and carried out kidnappings and killings.
The attack on Binnari underscores the vulnerability of communities in remote areas, where difficult terrain and limited access can complicate emergency responses and security operations.
Authorities had not publicly identified the perpetrators in the reports reviewed. The investigation and efforts to establish the full circumstances of the attack remain critical to determining responsibility and preventing further violence.
Leave a comment