Gunmen Kill at Least 62 in Northeastern Nigeria Attack

At least 62 people were killed in an attack on the Binnari community in northeastern Nigeria, the country's emergency agency said Tuesday. The assault, attributed to criminals known as bandits, occurred Friday in Taraba state.

In addition to the fatalities, 52 people were wounded and thousands were displaced, according to Ladan Ayuba, the state head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Officials confirmed that 52 bodies had been recovered so far, including 15 found in the Benue River.

A Taraba police spokesperson stated that the death toll is not definitive, as recovery efforts are ongoing. "We still have men on the ground, and the more we recover bodies, we will put them in account," Victor Mshelizah told The Associated Press.

Witness accounts suggest that fleeing residents were chased towards the river by the attackers, leading some to attempt escape by entering the water. "What happened was that people were chased towards the river, they launched into the river trying to escape the bandits," said Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

Attacks by bandits are a recurring issue in northern Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target civilian populations. These groups are known to carry out large-scale kidnappings for ransom, control illegal mining sites, and engage in violence. Nigeria is grappling with a complex security crisis that also includes threats from Islamist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.