Residents in Taraba State report 40 killed in motorcycle assault
Police confirmed 10 bodies recovered by Friday evening, but Amnesty International and local survivors say the toll rose to 40 after additional victims were found on Saturday.
By Pavel Bell ·
Amnesty International reported that 40 people died in a raid on Binnari village in Taraba State, a figure that sharply exceeds the initial police count. The rights group stated on Saturday that authorities had first confirmed 10 deaths, but more bodies were discovered later that day. This discrepancy highlights the gap between official records and community assessments in the aftermath of the attack.
Police said a large group of gunmen on motorcycles struck the village, recovering 10 bodies by Friday evening. Officers noted that the attackers looted food from local shops during the assault. The incident marks the latest episode of violence linked to banditry in eastern Nigeria.
Survivors provided accounts that supported the higher casualty estimates. Sa'idu Nuhu, a resident of Binnari, told the AFP news agency that the community counted more than 20 bodies after the gunmen departed. He added that some people remained missing at the time of his report. Isiyaku Musa, another resident, also placed the death toll at no fewer than 20.
Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader, described the scale of the force used by the assailants. He stated that approximately 50 motorcycles carried the attackers into the village, with two men riding on each vehicle. Saifullahi said the group raided shops, taking cash, foodstuffs, and other provisions. They also seized motorcycles left behind by residents fleeing the gunfire.
The attack began just after Friday prayers, according to residents. Amnesty International criticized Nigerian authorities in a statement, arguing that rural communities in parts of the north are left at the mercy of gunmen. The group said these armed groups repeatedly commit atrocities with impunity.
Banditry has intensified in northwest and central Nigeria, where gangs operate in remote areas with limited state presence. These groups often raid villages, kidnap individuals for ransom, and levy taxes on farmers and miners. Taraba State, located in the central east, faces similar threats from bands not driven by specific ideologies.
In a separate development on Saturday, the Nigerian military announced it had killed 15 terrorists in an airstrike in Borno State. This action was part of the ongoing campaign against armed rebellion that has persisted since the 2009 Boko Haram uprising.
Source: Al Jazeera
