Police and residents clash over death toll in Taraba village raid

A dispute over the death toll has emerged following an armed raid on Binnari village in Taraba State, eastern Nigeria. Police announced on Saturday that 10 bodies had been recovered by Friday evening. Survivors and human rights advocates report a much higher number, with counts reaching 40.

The conflict centers on the discrepancy between official figures and community reports. Police stated that a large group of gunmen on motorcycles attacked the village and looted food from shops. Amnesty International released a statement on Saturday saying 40 people were killed. The group noted that while police initially confirmed 10 deaths, additional bodies were found on Saturday.

Resident Sa'idu Nuhu told AFP that after the attackers left, the community counted more than 20 bodies. He noted that some people remained missing. Isiyaku Musa, another resident, provided a similar account, placing the death toll at no fewer than 20. These local estimates stand in contrast to the police figure of 10.

Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader, described the logistics of the assault. He said the assailants arrived on approximately 50 motorcycles. Two men rode on each bike. The group raided the village, taking cash, foodstuffs, and other provisions. They also seized motorcycles abandoned by residents fleeing the gunfire.

The raid occurred just after Friday prayers. The attackers looted shops and took provisions from the community. Amnesty International criticized Nigerian authorities for leaving rural communities in the north exposed to gunmen. The organization stated that these groups continue to commit atrocities with impunity.

Banditry has grown in northwest and central Nigeria. Powerful gangs clash with police and military forces in remote rural areas. Taraba State faces these non-ideological bands that raid villages, kidnap people for ransom, and levy taxes on farmers and miners. The state has limited presence in these regions.

In a separate development on Saturday, the Nigerian military announced it killed 15 terrorists in an air strike in Borno State. This follows the 2009 uprising by Boko Haram, which began the country's ongoing fight against armed rebellion in the northeast.