Survivors in Binnari say 40 died in attack while police count 10
Amnesty International and local residents dispute the official figure of 10 deaths from the Friday attack in Taraba State, citing higher counts and continued searches.
By Xiaoyu Wang ·
Police in Taraba State reported that 10 bodies were recovered by Friday evening following an armed assault on Binnari village. The official count reflects the immediate aftermath of the raid, which police linked to ongoing banditry in the region. Officers stated that the attackers looted food from local shops during the incursion.
Local accounts describe a far deadlier event. Survivors told the AFP news agency that at least 20 people lost their lives. Amnesty International issued a statement on Saturday claiming the death toll reached 40. The human rights group noted that while police initially confirmed 10 deaths, additional bodies were discovered later on Saturday.
Residents said the violence began shortly after Friday prayers. Sa'idu Nuhu, a resident of Binnari, reported that more than 20 bodies were visible after the gunmen departed. He added that several people remained missing at the time of his account. Isiyaku Musa, another resident, provided a similar estimate, placing the number of dead at no fewer than 20.
Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader, described the attackers as a large force arriving on approximately 50 motorcycles. He specified that two men rode on each bike before entering the village. Saifullahi told AFP that the group seized cash, foodstuffs, and provisions from shops. He also noted that they took motorcycles abandoned by villagers fleeing the gunfire.
Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian authorities for leaving rural communities in the north vulnerable to gunmen. The organization stated that these groups commit atrocities with impunity. The statement highlighted the disparity between the initial police report and the growing number of casualties identified by residents and observers.
The attack fits a pattern of banditry affecting northwest and central Nigeria. These groups, which are not driven by ideology, raid villages, kidnap people for ransom, and collect taxes from farmers and miners. The state has limited presence in these remote areas, allowing gangs to operate against overstretched police and military forces.
In a separate incident on Saturday, the Nigerian military announced it killed 15 terrorists in an air strike in Borno State. This development occurred while searches continued in Taraba to account for the missing residents of Binnari.
Source: Al Jazeera
