Taraba State village attacked by armed riders leaving multiple dead and homes burned

Armed assailants have attacked a secluded community in northeastern Nigeria, leaving at least 10 people dead, burning residential properties and pillaging local businesses, according to regional law enforcement authorities.

The deadly assault targeted the village of Binnari, situated within the Karim Lamido district of Taraba State. Witnesses and community representatives fear the final number of victims may be considerably larger than the official tally, with local survivors estimating around 20 fatalities and a human rights organization reporting that the death count could reach 50.

The raid began shortly after afternoon prayers on Friday, when a convoy of roughly 50 motorcycles, each carrying two armed riders, swept into the settlement. The assault lasted for roughly four hours. Local community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi told the AFP news agency that the raiders ransacked retail shops, seizing money, food, provisions and motorbikes left behind by residents fleeing the scene.

Survivors described chaotic scenes as villagers scrambled into the surrounding wilderness under gunfire. Multiple residents noted that several community members remain unaccounted for following the chaos.

Police officials reported finding 10 bodies bearing bullet injuries after dispatching units to the area. Assistant Superintendent of Police Victor Mshelizah stated that the perpetrators had scattered into challenging terrain before officers could confront them directly, though security forces have maintained patrols to stabilize the area. He confirmed that search parties are combing nearby brushland for additional casualties, cautioning that the death toll may climb.

Amnesty International's director in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, told BBC News that interactions with grieving families suggested the toll could be as high as 50, noting that an initial burial ceremony involved 37 victims. Sanusi called for a thorough and independent probe into the assault, criticizing state authorities for leaving vulnerable farming communities exposed to recurring armed violence without sufficient protection.

Nigeria continues to struggle with widespread violence carried out by armed gangs across its northern and central territories, alongside a long-running jihadist insurgency in the northeast, prompting sustained public scrutiny over the government's security measures.