Binnari Attack: Death Toll Rises to 50 as Taraba Distributes Relief Materials
The death toll from a suspected bandit attack on Binnari community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State has risen to 50, according to community accounts, as the state government begins distributing relief materials to affected residents.
The attack, which occurred on Friday shortly after Jumu’ah prayers, reportedly involved gunmen who opened fire on residents, looted food supplies and homes, and set shops and motorcycles ablaze.
The Taraba State Police Command initially confirmed the recovery of 10 bodies from the scene, but community members said subsequent searches in surrounding bushes and a nearby river brought the number of fatalities to 50.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said officers were immediately deployed to the community after receiving reports of the attack.
“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives were immediately mobilised to the scene, where ten (10) bodies bearing gunshot wounds were recovered,” Mshelizah said.
He added that the bodies were handed over to the victims’ families for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
The police said additional personnel had been placed on red alert, while joint reinforcement teams comprising tactical police units, the Police Mobile Force, conventional police, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies had been deployed to the area.
However, community accounts indicated that the death toll increased following further searches. According to the reports, 27 additional bodies were recovered from nearby bushes, while another 13, mostly children, were found in a river and surrounding areas. Some victims reportedly drowned, while others were hit by stray bullets.
Residents alleged that the attackers entered Binnari from neighbouring Plateau State with sophisticated weapons, adding that the community had suffered repeated assaults by armed groups.
The Commander of the Hunters Association, Babangida Ibrahim, said police officers and Nigerian Army personnel responded after residents raised the alarm, forcing the attackers to flee as security operatives approached.
He said the intervention helped limit the casualties but expressed concern over the challenges confronting local hunters in defending their communities.
Ibrahim alleged that conventional security agencies sometimes arrested hunters found carrying pump-action guns and called on the government to provide them with more sophisticated weapons to improve their capacity to respond to future attacks.
Meanwhile, community stakeholders have called for improved security deployment and better road access to the affected area, citing difficulties in reaching remote communities during emergencies.
Tanko Bobbo Andemin, a community stakeholder, urged the government to treat the recurring attacks on Binnari as a special security concern. He argued that poor road connectivity had hindered the rapid movement of security personnel to affected locations.
“We call on His Excellency to link Karim Lamido with road network because this thing happens due to lack of access roads, even if the security agents want to come, there is no road,” Andemin said.
Similarly, the member representing Karim II State Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Anas Shuaibu, described the incident as “one attack too many” and appealed to the Plateau State Government to strengthen security along the border with Taraba.
He said he would report the incident to Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas and expressed hope that the governor would engage his Plateau counterpart to improve border surveillance and prevent further attacks.
Governor Kefas condemned the killings and directed security agencies to take urgent measures to restore calm, protect lives and property, and apprehend those responsible.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communications, Emmanuel Bello, the governor said efforts must be made to identify and arrest the perpetrators, regardless of their status or position.
Kefas also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in Karim Lamido, including efforts to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons and rebuild confidence among communities affected by previous crises.
As part of the state’s broader peacebuilding efforts, the governor recently approved ₦1 billion for the Taraba State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management to address the consequences of previous crises and support peace initiatives in Karim Lamido.
The governor extended his condolences to the families of the victims and urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
In a related development, the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has delivered relief materials to affected residents, many of whom have reportedly fled their homes and sought refuge in neighbouring communities.
The agency also assessed the extent of the destruction to determine the additional humanitarian assistance required.
The Executive Secretary of Taraba SEMA, Echuseh Audu, appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant while cooperating with security operatives.
“As we provide humanitarian support in the form of food and non-food items, I want to counsel the residents of the area to be calm and vigilant and work closely with security operatives to provide credible information that will assist in halting a recurrence,” Audu said.
The state government also said additional security personnel were being deployed to prevent further attacks and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
The victims have reportedly been buried in a mass burial, while residents continue to assess their losses and await further measures to improve security and prevent a recurrence.
The reported death toll of 50 is based on community accounts and exceeds the 10 fatalities initially confirmed by the police. An updated official casualty figure was not provided in the report.
