ABUJA, October 26 (Aalimi Nation) – The death toll from a gunmen's attack on a market-day gathering in Binnari, a community in north-eastern Nigeria's Taraba State, has risen to 58, police said on Sunday. The figure includes 15 people who drowned while trying to flee, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent weeks.
Taraba attack: what police say
The assault took place on Friday in Binnari, in the Karim-Lamido Local Government Area, on the community's weekly market day. Gunmen opened fire on residents and set houses on fire, leaving families displaced. Accounts of its length differ, ranging from more than three hours to about four.
Victor Mshelizah, spokesman for the Taraba State police command, said the toll climbed after more bodies were recovered from nearby bush and a river. He said 15 of the dead were people who ran from the attackers and boarded a canoe that was overloaded and capsized. Police said some people are still feared missing, so the figure could change.
Early estimates were lower. Local officials had put the number of dead at more than 40 before the police update, and one aide to the Karim-Lamido council chairperson said he was not sure of the exact count. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Residents question security cover
Survivors and local volunteers described a remote area with poor roads and weak telecommunications, which they said made it hard to confirm casualties quickly. A trader identified only as Adamu told reporters, "We have no government in place," and alleged that the attackers operated for hours without resistance. These accounts have not been independently verified, and the authorities have not responded to the allegation.
An aide to the local council chairperson said the attackers struck in a guerrilla style and withdrew towards settlements in neighbouring Plateau and Bauchi states. He said local hunters and vigilantes chased them into the forest before security forces arrived, and that security personnel have since taken over the community.
Relief and official response
Governor Agbu Kefas directed immediate humanitarian assistance. The Taraba State Emergency Management Agency carried out an on-site assessment and began distributing foodstuffs, mattresses, blankets and other essential items to affected families. Its executive secretary, Echuseh Audu, called the distribution the first phase and said the governor had directed that "no victim of this dastardly act be left unattended to." Further aid, she said, would depend on needs assessments. The agency also urged residents to stay calm and pass credible information to security agencies.
Taraba has seen deadly violence in recent years linked to communal clashes and banditry. The latest attack has renewed questions about security in remote parts of the state, and residents have called for stronger security operations and sustained support for survivors.
Some victims are still feared missing, so the final toll may change. Police have not announced any arrests, and the state agency has said further aid will follow its needs assessments.
