The death toll from Friday’s attack on Binnari community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State has risen to 56, following the recovery of additional bodies and the drowning of 15 residents who attempted to escape from the attackers through a river.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Victor Mshelizah, disclosed the updated casualty figure on Sunday, attributing the increase to the recovery of bodies from surrounding bushes and a river.
The attack, which occurred on a market day, reportedly left several houses burnt, property destroyed and families displaced, sparking outrage among residents over the community’s vulnerability to repeated attacks by suspected bandits.
Providing an update, Mshelizah said he had spoken with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area, who briefed him on the latest developments.
“I just spoke with the DPO on the latest development in the area. He told me that 23 more bodies were recovered, while another 15 persons who were trying to escape from the attack through the river drowned,” he said.
According to the police spokesperson, the 15 residents drowned after a canoe conveying them overturned as they attempted to flee the attackers.
“Because they were trying to run away from the attackers, they overloaded the canoe, and it capsized in the river. Some of the bodies are missing, while 15 were recovered from the river,” he added.
Mshelizah assured residents that the police command remained committed to restoring lasting peace and protecting lives and property in the affected community.
However, residents have expressed concern over the security situation, calling on the authorities to strengthen security measures to prevent further attacks.
A hunter and member of the Youth Security Volunteers Vanguard in Karim-Lamido, Yimita Sunday, said Binnari’s remote location, poor road network and inadequate telecommunications services had made it difficult to establish the full extent of the casualties and contact residents.
“I cannot tell you exactly what happened because the place is too far. I have been trying to get in touch with some of our members there, as well as a clergyman I know, but the network has not allowed me to reach them,” Sunday said.
He alleged that the attackers spent more than three hours shooting at residents, setting houses ablaze and looting property, while the community remained largely inaccessible to those who could have provided immediate assistance.
Sunday added that the difficult terrain and deplorable roads had hampered efforts to reach survivors, leaving affected residents with limited access to emergency assistance.
An aide to the Karim-Lamido Local Government Chairperson, Pastor Ephraim Kwachi, said the attackers operated in a guerrilla-style manner before retreating towards settlements in neighbouring Plateau and Bauchi states.
Kwachi said the exact number of casualties was initially unclear, although he believed that more than 40 people had been killed.
He added that local hunters and vigilantes pursued the attackers into the forest before security personnel arrived, noting that security operatives had since taken control of the community.
“Life has returned to normal now, but because of the tense situation, I have been unable to go there. Security operatives have, however, taken over the community,” he said.
Kwachi disclosed that the local government chairperson was in Kaduna State attending the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign when the attack occurred. He, however, returned to Taraba by road on Saturday night.
The latest casualty figures have heightened concerns about the scale of the violence and the challenges facing residents of remote communities in Taraba State, with calls growing for improved security and faster emergency response to prevent further loss of lives.
