Brutal Attack in Eastern Nigeria: Gunmen Kill at Least 10 Villagers, Loot Shops

Gunmen have killed at least 10 people in an attack on a village in eastern Nigeria, police reported, amidst the nation's ongoing struggle with banditry and armed groups across various regions. According to Nigerian police, 10 bodies were recovered as of Friday evening following a large-scale assault by gunmen on motorcycles in Binnari village, Taraba State. The attackers also plundered food supplies from local shops.

Survivors interviewed by AFP news agency stated that the death toll could be as high as 20, while human rights organization Amnesty International indicated in a statement on Saturday that the number of fatalities reached 40. Amnesty International also noted that while police initially confirmed 10 deaths, additional bodies were discovered later on Saturday. Residents reported that the gunmen opened fire shortly after Friday prayers.

"After the attackers left, we counted more than 20 bodies, and some people were still missing," Sa’idu Nuhu, a resident of Binnari, told AFP. Another resident, Isiyaku Musa, also provided a death toll of at least 20. Malam Abubakar Saifullahi, a community leader, informed AFP that approximately 50 motorcycles, each carrying two individuals, were used by the attackers to raid the village. "They looted shops and took cash, foodstuffs and other provisions. They also took motorcycles abandoned by people fleeing the attack," Saifullahi added.

Amnesty International issued a criticism of the Nigerian authorities, stating they "continue to leave rural communities in some parts of the north at the mercy of gunmen that are repeatedly committing atrocities with impunity."

Banditry Problem

Banditry has escalated into a significant concern in northwest and central Nigeria, with powerful gangs engaging in conflict with overstretched police and military forces in remote, rural areas. Taraba, a state in the central-eastern part of the country, is also grappling with the non-ideological threat posed by "bandit" gangs. These bandits frequently raid villages, abduct individuals for ransom, and impose "taxes" on farmers or miners in rural Nigerian areas where state presence is minimal. Nigeria has also been contending with an armed rebellion since the Boko Haram uprising in 2009.

Separately, on Saturday, the Nigerian military announced that it had killed 15 "terrorists" in northeastern Borno state through an air strike.