Gunmen Kill at Least 10 Villagers in Northeast Nigeria
Attackers looted shops and set houses ablaze in Taraba state, with fears the death toll could be higher.
Unknown gunmen killed at least 10 villagers and looted shops in a raid on the remote village of Binnari in Nigeria's northeastern Taraba state. The attackers also set houses ablaze during the rampage, which lasted up to four hours on Friday. Police have recovered 10 bodies with gunshot wounds but warned that the death toll could rise as searches continue in the bush for additional casualties.
Authorities were alerted to the attack after midday Muslim prayers and responded to a distress call. However, the gunmen had fled the scene by the time police arrived. Assistant Superintendent of Police Victor Mshelizah stated that officers patrolled the area to restore calm, noting the difficulty of the terrain for law enforcement in pursuing the attackers.
Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen arrived on approximately 50 motorcycles, with two individuals per bike. Community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi told AFP news agency that the attackers looted shops of cash, foodstuffs, and other provisions, and also took motorcycles abandoned by fleeing residents.
Nigeria continues to face significant security challenges, with armed groups active across several regions, including the northwest, northeast, and central areas. The country is also engaged in a nearly two-decade-long jihadist insurgency in its northeast, drawing persistent criticism of the government's handling of insecurity. Human rights organization Amnesty International has previously accused authorities of failing to adequately protect rural communities.
Police are continuing their search for potential casualties and working to restore order in the affected area.