Gunmen on motorcycles burst into the village of Binnari in Nigeria's Taraba state mid‑afternoon and set fire to homes and businesses, killing at least ten residents. Police recovered 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and are searching nearby forests for more casualties.
Eyewitnesses say the attack lasted four hours and the time of day—just after Friday prayers—made villagers especially vulnerable. Reports from local residents and NGOs suggest the death toll could reach 50, with several families still missing.
Amnesty International has called for an impartial inquiry, accusing authorities of leaving rural communities vulnerable to repeated attacks. The incident is part of a wider conflict in Nigeria that sees regular incursions by jihadists, kidnappers and armed groups, stirring fears across rural communities.
Officials say the attackers fled after the police response, but they have since patrolled the area to restore calm. Assistant Superintendent Victor Mshelizah noted the terrain makes pursuit difficult, yet police remain determined to clear the bush and find the missing.
Community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi describes the raiders as arriving on about fifty motorcycles, two men per bike, looting cash, food and abandoned motorcycles for their own use. "They took what they could and fled before the police arrived," he told AFP.
The incident underscores the urgent need for stronger protection in rural northern Nigeria, where violence from armed groups continues to rise and government response is often delayed.
