Village raid in Taraba State leaves death toll estimates ranging from 10 to 40
Police and human rights groups report vastly different figures after gunmen on motorcycles attacked Binnari.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Gunmen on motorcycles attacked Binnari village in Taraba State, Nigeria, on Friday, leaving at least 10 people dead according to police, a figure that residents and human rights advocates say is far too low.
Nigerian police confirmed on Saturday that 10 bodies had been recovered by Friday evening. The officers stated that a large group of armed men conducted the raid and looted food from local shops. However, Amnesty International issued a statement on Saturday claiming that 40 people were killed. The organization noted that while police initially confirmed only 10 deaths, additional bodies were discovered later on Saturday. Survivors told the AFP news agency that the toll is at least 20, creating a gap in reported figures that spans 30 lives.
Witnesses described the assault as rapid and violent. Binnari resident Sa'idu Nuhu said the attackers opened fire just after Friday prayers. He added that after the gunmen left, residents counted more than 20 bodies, with others still missing. Isiyaku Musa, another resident, also placed the death toll at a minimum of 20. Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader, detailed the logistics of the attack, stating that approximately 50 motorcycles arrived with two men on each. He reported that the group looted cash, foodstuffs, and provisions, and also seized motorcycles left behind by fleeing villagers.
Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government's response to the incident. The group said authorities continue to leave rural communities in parts of the north vulnerable to gunmen who commit atrocities with impunity. This event is part of a wider pattern of violence linked to banditry in central and northwest Nigeria, where armed groups often operate in remote areas with little state presence.
These gangs typically raid villages for ransom, food, and supplies. They do not follow a specific ideology. The conflict in the region has intensified as police and military forces struggle to secure large rural areas. The violence in Taraba occurred alongside other military actions in the country.
On Saturday, the Nigerian military announced that it had killed 15 terrorists in an air strike in Borno State, located in the northeast. This separate operation highlights the ongoing security operations across the country as forces engage different armed groups in various regions.
