Gunmen kill at least 10 people in eastern Nigeria, police say | Police News
Gunmen Kill at Least 10 in Taraba State Village Attack
Binnari, Nigeria — October 24, 2026 (AP) — Gunmen attacked Binnari village in eastern Nigeria, killing at least 10 people, according to police reports. The incident occurred shortly after Friday prayers as the country continues to struggle with banditry and armed violence in various regions.
By Saturday, authorities had recovered 10 bodies from the aftermath of the assault, which involved a large group of gunmen on motorcycles. However, survivor accounts suggest a higher death toll. Local residents reported that at least 20 people were killed, while Amnesty International stated that the death toll could be as high as 40.
Amnesty noted that although police initially confirmed the deaths of 10 individuals, more bodies were found later that same day. Survivors described a chaotic scene as the gunmen opened fire and looted shops for food and cash.
“We counted more than 20 bodies, and some people were still missing,” said Sa’idu Nuhu, a resident of Binnari. Another local, Isiyaku Musa, corroborated the estimate of at least 20 casualties.
Community leader Malam Abubakar Saifullahi revealed that the attackers arrived on approximately 50 motorcycles, with two men on each bike. They reportedly looted shops and seized motorcycles from residents fleeing the violence.
Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government for its inability to protect rural populations, stating that many communities in the north remain vulnerable to recurring attacks from armed groups operating with impunity.
The issue of banditry has escalated in northwest and central Nigeria, where armed gangs frequently clash with an already overstretched police and military presence in remote rural areas. Taraba State, located in central-eastern Nigeria, also grapples with this growing threat.
Attacks include village raids, ransom kidnappings, and the imposition of “taxes” on local farmers and miners in regions where government oversight is minimal. The Nigerian government has also been engaged in a separate armed conflict since the 2009 uprising of the militant group Boko Haram.
In a related development, the Nigerian military reported the killing of 15 suspected “terrorists” in an airstrike conducted in northeastern Borno State on Saturday.
