Taraba Attack: Residents Say 20 Killed, Police Report 10

Gunmen on motorcycles attacked the rural village of Binnari in Taraba State just after Friday prayers, with residents reporting at least 20 deaths while police confirmed recovering 10 bodies.

Residents Isiyaku Musa and Sa’idu Nuhu both told AFP that more than 20 people were killed.

“After the attackers left, we counted more than 20 bodies, and some people were still missing,” Nuhu said.

“People were running in different directions to escape the attack. Nobody knew where it was safe to go,” Musa added.

Police gave a lower toll, saying 10 bodies had been recovered as of Friday evening.

Community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi said the attackers arrived on about 50 motorcycles, two men each, and looted shops, taking cash, foodstuffs and abandoned motorcycles.

While northeastern Nigeria is home to a long-running terrorist insurgency, Taraba also faces non-ideological “bandit” gangs that raid villages, kidnap for ransom and levy “taxes” on rural communities.

Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the attack, saying authorities continue to leave rural communities at the mercy of gunmen.

“Consistent failure of the authorities to bring the suspected perpetrators to justice is clearly emboldening impunity,” the rights group said on social media.

Separately, on Saturday, the Nigerian military said it had killed 15 “terrorists” in an air strike in Borno State.