50 Killed in Deadly Bandit Attack on Taraba Village In Nigeria.

At least 50 residents were killed when heavily armed gunmen attacked Binnari community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Local survivors said the attack happened on Friday, October 23, shortly after afternoon Jumu’ah prayers. The gunmen arrived on motorcycles and stormed the community market.

Witnesses said the attackers opened fire on shoppers, looted food items from stores, and set houses, market stalls and motorcycles ablaze. Families fled into surrounding bushes. The assailants operated for nearly four hours before security reinforcements arrived.

Initial police report put the death toll at 10. By Saturday morning, search parties recovered more bodies, raising the figure to 20. Later on Saturday, volunteers searching the river and footpaths pulled 43 additional bodies from the water, bringing the toll to 50.

Resident Abdullahi Zakari confirmed the discovery. He said many residents, mostly women and children, fled toward the river to escape gunfire and drowned, while others were hit by bullets along the riverbanks.

A later assessment by the National Emergency Management Agency put the confirmed deaths at 62, with 52 injured. The agency said 7,123 residents were affected and 5,187 displaced across Muri C Ward.

Before the attack, Friday had been a normal market day for farming and fishing community. Witnesses told local media the attackers came from neighboring Plateau State with assault rifles and surrounded the market.

Community leader Husaini said the gunmen burnt grain stores, shops and family houses. Commander of the Hunters Association, Babangida Ibrahim, said local hunters raised alarm and security forces from the Army and Police later engaged the bandits, who fled into the forest.

Survivors held mass burial for the victims. Taraba Police spokesperson ASP Victor Mshelizah said search operations were ongoing.

Governor Agbu Kefas condemned the killings and ordered deployment of additional security personnel and emergency relief. The Taraba State Emergency Management Agency, led by Executive Secretary Dr. Echuseh Audu, delivered food and household items to displaced families with NEMA.

Residents said Binnari has been attacked three times, including a 2025 raid that left injuries. They cited porous borders between Taraba and Plateau as a security challenge and called for joint border patrols.

The House of Representatives has called for targeted clearance operations in Karim-Lamido forests and permanent security outposts, and directed NEMA, North-East Development Commission and National Commission for Refugees to support displaced residents.

By: Oluikpe Jonadab