Villagers Count 40 Dead in Binnari Raid as Police List 10

Gunmen on motorcycles attacked Binnari village in Taraba State on Friday, killing at least 10 people according to police, though residents and human rights groups say the true death toll is far higher.

Police announced on Saturday that officers recovered 10 bodies by Friday evening. They said the attackers looted food from local shops during the assault. However, survivors told the AFP news agency that at least 20 people died. Amnesty International issued a statement on Saturday claiming 40 people were killed. The group noted that police had initially confirmed 10 deaths, but additional bodies were found later on Saturday.

The violence began just after Friday prayers. Sa'idu Nuhu, a resident of Binnari, said the community counted more than 20 bodies after the attackers left. He added that some people remained missing at the time of his report. Isiyaku Musa, another resident, also placed the death toll at no fewer than 20.

Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader, described the scale of the attack. He said about 50 motorcycles arrived, with two men riding on each one. The group raided the village, taking cash, foodstuffs, and other provisions. They also seized motorcycles that residents had abandoned while fleeing. The bandits are part of a growing pattern of violence in northwest and central Nigeria. These groups often operate in remote areas where state presence is weak. They raid villages, kidnap people for ransom, and levy taxes on farmers and miners. Taraba State also faces these threats despite being in the central east. In a separate incident on Saturday, the Nigerian military reported killing 15 individuals in an air strike in Borno State.

Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government for leaving rural communities in the north vulnerable to repeated attacks. The group stated that authorities allow gunmen to commit atrocities with impunity. The military air strike in Borno State marked another recent escalation in the country's ongoing fight against armed groups since the 2009 Boko Haram uprising began.