Dispute Erupts Over Death Count in Taraba State Village Raid

Armed men on motorcycles attacked Binnari village in Taraba State, Nigeria, killing at least 10 people according to official police counts. The raid occurred Friday just after prayers, with survivors describing a coordinated assault by a large group of gunmen.

Police officers stated that 10 bodies were recovered by Friday evening. However, Amnesty International released a statement on Saturday reporting that 40 people were killed. The human rights group noted that while police initially confirmed 10 deaths, additional bodies were discovered later that same Saturday.

Local residents provided figures that fell between the official count and the rights group's estimate. Sa'idu Nuhu, a Binnari resident, told AFP that more than 20 bodies were counted after the attackers left. He noted that some people remained missing at that time. Isiyaku Musa, another resident, also estimated the death toll at no fewer than 20.

Community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi described the attackers as arriving on approximately 50 motorcycles. He said two men rode on each bike. Saifullahi explained that the group looted shops and seized cash, foodstuffs, and other provisions. They also took motorcycles that villagers had abandoned while fleeing the scene.

The incident adds to a pattern of violence in central and eastern Nigeria. Bandit gangs in the region operate without a specific ideology. They raid villages, kidnap residents for ransom, and collect taxes from farmers and miners in areas where government presence is weak.

Amnesty International criticized Nigerian authorities for leaving rural communities in the north vulnerable to gunmen. The group stated that these groups commit atrocities with impunity. The military in the country also reported a separate air strike in Borno State on Saturday, killing 15 terrorists.