Residents in Taraba State Report 20 Dead After Motorcycle Raid

Residents of Binnari village in Taraba State are facing a disputed death toll following an attack by armed men on Friday. Local survivors state that at least 20 people died, a figure that exceeds the official count provided by law enforcement. The violence marks another instance of bandit activity in Nigeria's central-eastern region.

The attack began just after Friday prayers. According to community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, the assailants arrived on approximately 50 motorcycles. Each bike carried two men. They raided the village, looting shops for cash, foodstuffs, and provisions. The group also seized motorcycles that residents had abandoned while fleeing. Saifullahi told the AFP news agency, "They looted shops and took cash, foodstuffs and other provisions."

Police officers announced on Saturday that they had recovered 10 bodies by Friday evening. The force stated that the gunmen targeted the village in the latest wave of violence linked to armed groups. While the official figure stands at 10, the discrepancy with local accounts has raised questions about the full scope of the incident.

Witnesses on the ground provided a different account. Binnari resident Sa'idu Nuhu told AFP that more than 20 bodies were counted after the attackers left. He noted that some people remained missing. Another resident, Isiyaku Musa, confirmed a minimum death toll of 20. Amnesty International issued a statement on Saturday claiming 40 people were killed. The rights group noted that police initially confirmed 10 deaths, but additional bodies were found later on Saturday.

Amnesty International criticized Nigerian authorities for leaving rural communities vulnerable. The organization stated that gunmen continue to commit atrocities with impunity in parts of the north. Banditry has grown in northwest and central Nigeria, where gangs operate in remote areas with little state presence. These groups are not driven by ideology. They raid villages, kidnap people for ransom, and levy taxes on farmers and miners.

The military responded to the violence in a separate incident on Saturday. Nigerian forces announced they killed 15 terrorists in an air strike in Borno State in the northeast. This action occurred amid the ongoing conflict with Boko Haram, which began with an uprising in 2009.