40 dead in Taraba raid, police confirm 10
Residents and Amnesty International report a much higher toll after gunmen on motorcycles struck Binnari village on Friday.
By Sarah Montgomery ·
Violence in central-eastern Nigeria has intensified as police confirmed ten deaths from a raid on Binnari village in Taraba State, while survivors and human rights groups claim the toll is four times higher. The attack, which occurred on Friday, was carried out by a large group of gunmen riding motorcycles.
Nigerian police said they recovered ten bodies by Friday evening. Officers stated that the attackers looted food from local shops during the assault. However, Amnesty International issued a statement on Saturday claiming that 40 people were killed. The group noted that while police initially confirmed only ten deaths, additional bodies were discovered later on Saturday.
Survivors provided accounts that align with the higher death toll. Sa'idu Nuhu, a resident of Binnari, told the AFP news agency that the community counted more than 20 bodies after the attackers left. He added that some people remained missing. Isiyaku Musa, another resident, also placed the death toll at no fewer than 20 people.
Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader, described the scale of the force. He said the assailants arrived on approximately 50 motorcycles, with two men on each vehicle. According to Saifullahi, the group looted cash, foodstuffs, and provisions from shops. They also seized motorcycles that residents had abandoned while fleeing the gunfire.
The raid began just after Friday prayers, residents said. Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government for leaving rural communities in the north vulnerable to repeated attacks. The organization stated that gunmen continue to commit atrocities with impunity in these areas.
Banditry has become a persistent issue in northwest and central Nigeria, where armed gangs operate in remote regions with limited state presence. These groups often raid villages for ransom or levy taxes on farmers and miners. In a separate incident on Saturday, the Nigerian military announced that it killed 15 terrorists in an air strike in Borno State in the northeast.
