Amnesty International Counts 40 Dead in Taraba State Village Raid

Amnesty International stated on Saturday that 40 people were killed during an attack on Binnari village in Taraba State. The human rights organization released this figure in a statement, noting that police had initially confirmed 10 deaths but that additional bodies were discovered later in the day.

Nigerian police reported on Saturday that officers recovered 10 bodies by Friday evening. The force attributed the violence to a large group of gunmen who arrived on motorcycles. Police also noted that the attackers looted food from local shops during the assault.

Local accounts place the casualty count well above the official police figure. Sa'idu Nuhu, a resident of Binnari, told AFP that survivors counted more than 20 bodies after the gunmen departed. He said several people remained missing at the time of the interview. Isiyaku Musa, another resident, independently estimated the death toll at no fewer than 20.

Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader, described the scale of the raid. He said approximately 50 motorcycles arrived, each carrying two men. The assailants targeted shops, taking cash, foodstuffs, and other provisions. They also seized motorcycles left behind by villagers who fled the gunfire.

Residents reported that the gunmen opened fire shortly after Friday prayers. The timing placed the village at its most vulnerable, with many people gathered or moving through the community. The attack fits a pattern of violence in central and eastern Nigeria, where armed groups operate with limited state oversight.

Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government for leaving rural communities exposed to repeated attacks. The group stated that authorities allow gunmen to commit atrocities with impunity in parts of the north. Banditry has grown in the region, with gangs raiding villages and collecting levies from farmers and miners in areas where the state has minimal presence.