At Least 10 Dead in Raid on Nigerian Village, Toll Disputed
Discrepancies emerge between official reports and survivor accounts regarding casualties in Taraba State.
By Marina Weber ·
Violence linked to banditry remains a persistent threat across several parts of Nigeria, where armed groups continue to target rural communities.
Police have confirmed that at least 10 people were killed in an assault on Binnari village in Taraba State, located in eastern Nigeria. Authorities reported recovering 10 bodies by Friday evening following the raid. According to police reports, a large group of gunmen on motorcycles carried out the attack.
However, figures regarding the scale of the tragedy vary significantly. While official police counts stand at 10, survivors provided a different account of the events. Speaking to the AFP news agency, residents reported finding more than 20 bodies after the attackers departed. Amnesty International reported an even higher casualty count on Saturday, stating that 40 people were killed in the incident.
The assault began shortly after Friday prayers on October 23. Binnari resident Sa'idu Nuhu described the scene to AFP, stating, "After the attackers left, we counted more than 20 bodies, and some people were still missing." Another resident, Isiyaku Musa, corroborated this estimate, noting no fewer than 20 fatalities.
Community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi provided details on the logistics of the attack, indicating that assailants arrived on approximately 50 motorcycles, with two individuals on each bike. The group proceeded to raid shops in the village. Saifullahi stated, "They looted shops and took cash, foodstuffs and other provisions. They also took motorcycles abandoned by people fleeing the attack."
Amnesty International has criticized the response from Nigerian authorities regarding the security situation. The organization stated that the government "continue to leave rural communities in some parts of the north at the mercy of gunmen that are repeatedly committing atrocities with impunity".
The incident reflects a broader pattern of insecurity in Nigeria's northwest and central regions. Gangs operating in these areas engage in clashes with security forces, often in remote locations where state presence is limited. In Taraba, these groups do not operate with a specific political ideology. Instead, they raid villages, kidnap individuals for ransom, and demand payments from farmers and miners in areas where the state has little presence.
Nigeria is also contending with an armed rebellion that began with the 2009 uprising by Boko Haram. In a related development concerning national security, the Nigerian military announced on Saturday that it had killed 15 "terrorists" during an air strike in the northeastern state of Borno.
