Nigeria: gunmen kill at least 10 in Taraba village raid, toll may reach 40
Gunmen on motorcycles attacked Binnari village in Nigeria's Taraba State, killing at least 10 people, looting shops and burning homes. Police say the toll may rise; rights groups say up to 40 or more died.
At a glance
- Gunmen riding about 50 motorcycles attacked Binnari village in Karim Lamido area of Taraba State, north-east Nigeria, on Friday afternoon, October 23, 2026, after midday prayers.
- Police said they recovered 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and were still searching the bush; they warned the toll could rise.
- Survivors counted at least 20 dead, and Amnesty International said at least 40 people were killed, with up to 50 feared dead according to bereaved families. These higher figures have not been confirmed by police.
- The attackers looted shops for cash and food, took motorcycles left behind by fleeing residents and set houses on fire. No arrests have been reported.
Gunmen on motorcycles killed at least 10 people in Binnari village in the Karim Lamido area of Taraba State, north-east Nigeria, on Friday afternoon, October 23, 2026, police said, as they looted shops and set homes on fire during a raid lasting several hours. Police said the toll could rise as searches continue, while survivors and Amnesty International say far more people died — Amnesty puts the figure at at least 40.
What happened
According to residents, the attackers arrived just after Friday's midday prayers. A community leader said about 50 motorcycles came into the village, each carrying two armed men. For up to four hours they fired on residents, broke into shops and took cash, foodstuffs and other goods, and set houses alight. They also rode off on motorcycles abandoned by villagers who had fled on foot into the surrounding bush.
Police said officers responded to a distress call, dispersed the gunmen and recovered 10 bodies bearing gunshot wounds. A police spokesman, Assistant Superintendent Victor Mshelizah, said there were no casualties among the officers or attackers during the response, and that the difficult terrain, which the gunmen know well, was slowing the search. In a statement on Saturday, police described the attackers as a "large group of gunmen".
| Binnari attack, Taraba State | Details |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Friday, October 23, 2026, early afternoon |
| Place | Binnari village, Karim Lamido LGA, Taraba State |
| Attackers | Large armed group on about 50 motorcycles |
| Deaths confirmed by police | 10 (search continuing) |
| Survivors' count | At least 20 |
| Amnesty International | At least 40; families fear up to 50 |
| Damage | Shops looted, houses burned, motorcycles stolen |
| Arrests | None reported |
A disputed death toll
The number of dead is not yet settled. Survivors said they had counted at least 20 bodies, and several people are still missing. Amnesty International said more bodies were recovered later on Saturday, and its Nigeria director, Isa Sanusi, said 37 people were buried at the first funeral alone. Bereaved families told the group that as many as 50 people may have died. Police have not confirmed these higher figures. GlobeHourly will update this report as the official toll changes.
Background
Taraba, which borders Cameroon, is one of several states in Nigeria's north-east and central belt where villages are repeatedly attacked by armed gangs. These groups — known locally as bandits — raid communities, kidnap residents for ransom, rustle cattle and loot food and money. Karim Lamido has also seen deadly clashes in the past between farming communities and herders, and between rival ethnic groups over land.
Nigeria is fighting several security crises at once: a jihadist insurgency in the north-east that has lasted nearly two decades, banditry in the north-west and north-central regions, and farmer-herder violence across the middle belt. Rural villages, often far from police and army posts, are the most exposed, and attackers frequently escape before security forces arrive.
Reactions
Survivors described panic as the shooting began. One resident said people fled in every direction and "nobody knew where it was safe to go".
Amnesty International accused the authorities of failing to protect rural communities and called for an impartial investigation. Sanusi said villagers were being left at the mercy of armed groups that commit atrocities with impunity. Police said the search of the area was continuing.
Why it matters
The raid is another reminder of how insecurity is spreading across rural Nigeria, Africa's most populous country. Repeated attacks drive families from their farms, push up food prices and add to the number of people displaced inside the country. They also deepen pressure on President Bola Tinubu's government, which has promised to improve security but faces persistent criticism over killings in the countryside.
What happens next
Police say the search for bodies and missing residents in the bush around Binnari is continuing, and the official toll may rise. Investigators are trying to identify the gang responsible; no arrests have been announced. Rights groups are calling for an independent investigation and for more protection for villages in Karim Lamido and neighbouring areas.
Questions people are asking
What happened in Taraba State, Nigeria?
On Friday, October 23, 2026, gunmen on motorcycles attacked Binnari village in Karim Lamido local government area of Taraba State, killing at least 10 people according to police, looting shops and burning homes. Rights groups say the real toll is much higher.
How many people were killed in the Binnari attack?
Police have confirmed 10 deaths. Survivors said at least 20 died, and Amnesty International put the toll at at least 40, saying bereaved families feared up to 50 had been killed; 37 people were buried at the first funeral, according to Amnesty.
Who carried out the attack in Taraba?
Police have not named the attackers. They described a large group of gunmen; armed gangs known locally as bandits have carried out repeated raids on villages in northern and central Nigeria, looting, kidnapping for ransom and stealing livestock.
