Residents Count 40 Dead in Binnari Raid as Police Confirm 10
A motorcycle ambush on a Taraba State village triggered a dispute over casualties, with survivors and rights groups citing a much higher toll than official figures.
By Xiaoyu Wang ·
Gunmen on motorcycles struck Binnari village in Taraba State on Friday, killing at least 10 people according to local police. The attackers opened fire shortly after Friday prayers, then looted shops and took motorcycles left behind by fleeing residents. Police announced the recovery of 10 bodies by Friday evening.
Survivors and human rights observers report a much higher death toll. Amnesty International stated on Saturday that 40 people were killed, noting that police initially confirmed 10 deaths but found more bodies later in the day. Residents Sa'idu Nuhu and Isiyaku Musa each told the AFP news agency that at least 20 people died. Nuhu added that some individuals remained missing after the raid.
Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader in Binnari, described the scale of the attack. He said the assailants arrived on approximately 50 motorcycles, with two men on each bike. The group looted cash, foodstuffs, and other provisions from local businesses before departing. The violence follows a pattern of banditry in central-eastern Nigeria, where armed groups raid rural areas for ransom and levy taxes on farmers.
Amnesty International criticized Nigerian authorities for leaving rural communities vulnerable to repeated attacks. The group stated that officials allow gunmen to commit atrocities with impunity in parts of the north. Banditry has grown in northwest and central Nigeria, where powerful gangs clash with police and military forces in remote areas.
The attack occurred against a backdrop of ongoing security operations in the country. On Saturday, the Nigerian military reported killing 15 terrorists in an air strike in Borno State in the northeast. This separate incident highlights the continued presence of armed groups across different regions of Nigeria.
Police in Taraba have not yet updated their official death count beyond the initial 10. Residents continue to search for missing persons and count bodies found after the initial police sweep. The village remains under assessment as families gather to identify the dead.
The next official update on the casualty figures is expected as police complete their investigation of the scene. Community leaders plan to meet with state officials to discuss security measures for Binnari and surrounding villages in the coming days.
Source: Al Jazeera
