At least 58 people have died following an attack by unidentified gunmen on Binnari village in north-eastern Nigeria’s Taraba State, with police reporting that additional bodies were recovered from surrounding bushes and a river as search operations continued.
Taraba State Police Command spokesperson Victor Mshelizah said that the death toll rose to 58 on Sunday, October 25, after more bodies were recovered following the attack on Friday, October 23, in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area.
The latest figure is higher than the 48 deaths reported earlier, which also cited Mshelizah. Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, Isa Sanusi, separately reported that the organisation had confirmed 52 deaths, citing sources on the ground and members of the local community.
The differing figures reflect updates from separate sources as authorities and residents continued accounting for victims.
The attack occurred on the community’s weekly market day, when armed men reportedly arrived on motorcycles and opened fire on residents. The assailants looted shops and food supplies before setting houses and other property ablaze, according to reports from the area.
The violence reportedly lasted about four hours, leaving families displaced and residents searching for missing relatives.
Police said some victims were killed in surrounding bushes as they attempted to escape the attackers. Others drowned when an overloaded canoe carrying people fleeing to a nearby community capsized while crossing a river.
The police spokesperson said 15 bodies of people who had fled the attack were recovered on Sunday. Some victims were still feared missing, raising concerns that the final casualty figure could change as searches continued.
The police had initially reported 10 deaths after officers responded to a distress call and recovered bodies bearing gunshot wounds. The subsequent discovery of more victims in surrounding areas led to successive increases in the reported death toll.
The Taraba State Government said it had begun distributing relief materials to support survivors and families affected by the attack. The violence also left homes damaged and residents seeking refuge outside the affected community.
No group had claimed responsibility for the attack in the reports available by Monday, October 26. The identities of the gunmen and their motive had not been established publicly.
The killings have renewed concerns about the security of rural communities in parts of Nigeria, where residents face attacks by armed groups, including suspected bandits. The remote location of affected settlements can also complicate emergency responses and efforts to establish the full extent of casualties.
Amnesty International has called for an impartial investigation into the killings and accountability for those responsible, while highlighting concerns over the protection of civilians in vulnerable communities.
Police have continued monitoring developments in Binnari as the search for missing residents proceeds. The death toll remains subject to further updates as authorities establish the number of people killed and account for those who have not been found.
