The death toll from a suspected bandit attack on Binnari community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State has risen from the 10 initially reported by the police to 50, according to community accounts.
Gunmen invaded the community on Friday, shortly after Jumu’ah prayers, shooting sporadically, looting food items and residential houses, and setting shops and motorcycles ablaze.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Taraba State Police Command confirmed that 10 bodies bearing gunshot wounds had been recovered from the scene.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said the attackers were large in number and invaded the village with heavy gunfire, causing panic among residents.
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“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives were immediately mobilised to the scene, where ten (10) bodies bearing gunshot wounds were recovered,” Mshelizah said in a statement.
“The corpses were subsequently handed over to the families for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.”
The police said additional personnel had been placed on red alert, while joint reinforcement teams comprising the Police Tactical Units, Police Mobile Force, conventional police, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies had been deployed to the area.
However, community accounts put the death toll at 50 following further searches in nearby bushes and a river.
More Bodies Recovered
According to the community’s account, after the initial 10 bodies were found, 27 more were recovered following an intensive search of the surrounding bushes.
Another 13 bodies, mostly those of children, were subsequently found in a river and nearby bushes. Some had reportedly drowned, while others were hit by stray bullets.
Residents said the attackers crossed into the community from neighbouring Plateau State with sophisticated weapons.
The community also alleged that Binnari had been attacked three times by armed groups.
The Commander of the Hunters Association, Babangida Ibrahim, said police officers and Nigerian Army personnel responded after the alarm was raised, forcing the attackers to flee as security operatives approached.
He said the intervention helped limit the casualties.
Ibrahim, however, expressed concern about the challenges faced by local hunters, saying conventional security agencies arrest them even when they carry pump-action guns.
He called on the government to provide hunters with sophisticated weapons to help them confront future attacks.
Community Seeks Improved Security, Road Access
A community stakeholder, Tanko Bobbo Andemin, called on the government to treat the recurring attacks on Binnari as a special security concern.
He also appealed for improved road access to Karim Lamido, saying poor connectivity makes it difficult for security personnel to reach affected communities.
“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.
He urged residents to remain law-abiding and protect themselves while awaiting further government action.
The member representing Karim II State Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Anas Shuaibu, described the attack as “one attack too many” and called on the neighbouring Plateau State Government to strengthen security along the border.
“I want to appeal and plead with the Plateau State Government to take drastic measures because the bandits are destroying lives and property in Taraba State,” he said.
Shuaibu added that he would report the incident to the Taraba State Governor and expressed hope that the governor would engage his Plateau State counterpart to ensure stricter border patrols.
Governor Condemns Killings
Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, condemned the killings and called on security agencies to take urgent steps to restore calm, protect lives and property, and bring those responsible to justice.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communications, Emmanuel Bello, the governor said every effort must be made to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, regardless of their status or position.
Kefas reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing insecurity and restoring lasting peace in Karim Lamido. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons and rebuild confidence among residents affected by previous crises.
As part of the broader peacebuilding efforts, the governor recently approved ₦1bn for the Taraba State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management to address the aftermath of previous crises and support initiatives aimed at restoring peace in Karim Lamido.
The governor sent condolences to the victims’ families and urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
Relief Materials
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency has delivered relief materials to the affected community, where thousands of residents have reportedly been displaced and are seeking refuge in neighbouring communities.
The agency also assessed the extent of the damage to determine further humanitarian assistance required.
The Executive Secretary of Taraba SEMA, Echuseh Audu, appealed for calm, assuring residents that the state government would not abandon them.
She said the government and security agencies were taking measures to restore normalcy and improve security in the area.
“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 it was deploying additional security personnel to prevent further attacks and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
The victims have been buried in a mass burial as residents continue to assess their losses and await further measures to prevent a recurrence.