At least 48 people have been killed in a deadly attack on a village in Nigeria’s north-eastern Taraba State, after heavily armed gunmen stormed the community following Friday prayers, shooting residents, looting businesses and setting properties ablaze.
The attack took place on Friday, 23 October, in Binnari village, Karim Lamido Local Government Area, where dozens of gunmen reportedly arrived on motorcycles and unleashed several hours of violence.
The death toll has continued to rise as rescue teams and residents recover bodies from surrounding areas, including those of villagers who drowned while attempting to escape.
According to Nigeria’s BusinessDay newspaper, Taraba State Police spokesperson Victor Mshelizah confirmed that 48 people had died, including 15 residents who reportedly drowned in a boat accident while fleeing the attackers.
A further 23 bodies were reportedly recovered from surrounding bushland after police initially confirmed 10 fatalities.
Meanwhile, survivors told the AFP news agency on Sunday that the death toll had reached 50, highlighting the scale of the massacre and uncertainty surrounding the final number of victims.
Gunmen descend on village after Friday prayers
Witnesses said the attackers struck shortly after Muslim congregational prayers, firing indiscriminately as terrified residents fled their homes.
Community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi told AFP that approximately 100 armed men arrived on around 50 motorcycles before launching their assault.
The gunmen looted shops, stealing cash, food supplies and other goods, while also seizing motorcycles abandoned by fleeing villagers.
Homes, shops and vehicles were reportedly set ablaze during the attack, leaving widespread destruction across the community.
Survivor Isiyaku Musa described scenes of panic as residents scattered in desperate attempts to find safety.
“People were running in different directions to escape the attack. Nobody knew where it was safe to go,” he told AFP.
Another resident, Sa’idu Nuhu, said several villagers remained missing after the attackers withdrew, raising fears that the death toll could climb further.
Police said security personnel had been deployed to the area following the killings.
Growing insecurity across northern Nigeria
The massacre has renewed concerns about the deteriorating security situation across northern Nigeria, where armed gangs continue to terrorise rural communities through killings, kidnappings, extortion and attacks on civilian settlements.
Although Nigeria’s north-east has endured a prolonged insurgency involving Boko Haram and other armed groups, Taraba also faces violence from criminal gangs commonly referred to as bandits.
These groups frequently target remote villages, exploiting limited state security presence to raid communities, abduct residents for ransom and steal livestock and other property.
The perpetrators of the Binnari massacre have not been conclusively identified, and no group has been confirmed as responsible.
The latest killings have intensified scrutiny of the Nigerian government’s ability to protect civilians, particularly in isolated communities where residents remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.
With Nigeria heading towards its 2027 general elections, worsening insecurity is expected to remain a major issue, alongside growing demands for justice, accountability and meaningful protection for communities across the country.
