The dying toll from Friday’s assault on Binnari neighborhood in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State has risen to 58, together with 15 individuals who drowned whereas fleeing the attackers.
Meanwhile, the state authorities has delivered emergency aid supplies to households affected by the assault.
The Taraba State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, disclosed the up to date casualty determine on Sunday, attributing the rise to the restoration of further our bodies from surrounding bushes and a river following the 23 October 2026 assault.
The assault, which occurred on market day, reportedly left a number of homes burnt, property destroyed and households displaced. Residents accused the authorities of failing to guard the neighborhood from repeated assaults by suspected bandits.
Providing an replace on the casualties, Mshelizah stated he had spoken with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) within the space, who briefed him on the most recent 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 stated.
According to the police spokesperson, the victims drowned after a canoe conveying them overturned as they tried to flee from 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 command remained dedicated to restoring lasting peace and defending lives and property within the affected neighborhood.
However, the assault has triggered outrage amongst residents, who lamented their neighborhood’s vulnerability to armed assaults and known as for stronger safety measures.
A dealer recognized merely as Adamu accused the authorities of failing to guard residents, alleging that the assailants operated for a number of hours with out encountering resistance.
“We have no government in place. For over four hours, bandits raided our community on market day, killing people at will and destroying goods in the market,” he lamented.
A hunter and member of the Youth Security Volunteers Vanguard in Karim-Lamido, Yimita Sunday, stated Binnari’s distant location, poor highway community and insufficient telecommunications providers had made it troublesome to contact residents and set up the complete extent of the casualties.
“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 stated.
He alleged that the attackers spent greater than three hours taking pictures at residents, setting homes ablaze and looting property, whereas the neighborhood remained largely inaccessible to those that might have supplied fast help.
Sunday stated the troublesome terrain and deplorable roads had hampered efforts to achieve survivors, leaving affected residents with restricted choices for escaping to security or acquiring pressing help.
An aide to the Karim-Lamido Local Government Chairperson, Pastor Ephraim Kwachi, stated the attackers operated in a guerrilla-style method earlier than retreating in direction of settlements in neighbouring Plateau and Bauchi states.
Kwachi stated the precise variety of casualties was initially unsure, however he believed greater than 40 individuals had been killed.
“I am not sure of the exact number as of today (Sunday), but the last time I saw the situation, the number of those killed was over 40,” he stated.
He added that native hunters and vigilantes pursued the attackers into the forest earlier than safety personnel arrived, whereas safety operatives had since taken management of the neighborhood.
“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 stated.
Kwachi disclosed that the council chairperson was in Kaduna State attending the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) marketing campaign when the assault occurred, however returned to Taraba by highway on Saturday night time.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Government has delivered emergency aid supplies to victims of the assault following a directive by Governor Agbu Kefas for fast humanitarian help.
The intervention, coordinated by the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA), included an on-the-ground evaluation of the destruction and the distribution of important provides to affected households.
Leading the evaluation and aid distribution workforce, TSEMA Executive Secretary, Dr Echuseh Audu, stated the intervention aimed to supply fast succour to victims whereas the federal government labored in direction of the neighborhood’s restoration.
“We are right here on behalf of the Taraba State Government to point out solidarity and supply fast succour to our brothers and sisters in Binnari.
“His Excellency has directed that no victim of this dastardly act be left unattended to,” she stated.
Audu defined that the distribution marked the primary part of the federal government’s intervention, including that additional help could be supplied based mostly on an evaluation of affected residents’ wants.
“This is just the first phase of intervention. The government is committed to not only providing food, shelter materials and essential supplies, but also ensuring long-term recovery and security for the community,” she stated.
The aid supplies included foodstuffs, mattresses, blankets, and different important non-food gadgets to alleviate the hardship confronted by households who misplaced their houses and livelihoods.
The TSEMA govt secretary stated the company was assessing the injury attributable to the assault to find out further humanitarian wants, whereas the state authorities was working with safety companies to revive peace and normalcy.
She urged residents to stay calm and vigilant and to cooperate with safety companies by offering credible info that might assist forestall additional assaults.
The aid distribution train was attended by members representing Karim-Lamido constituencies within the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Anas Shuaibu (*58*) and Hon. Abner Shittu; the Vice-Chairman of Karim-Lamido Local Government Council, Alhaji Uba Munyarda; conventional rulers; and different neighborhood stakeholders.
The lawmakers recommended Governor Kefas for his swift response and pledged continued collaboration with the state authorities to revive peace and stability within the affected neighborhood.
The assault has renewed considerations over the safety of rural communities in Taraba State, notably these in distant places the place poor highway infrastructure and weak telecommunications providers hamper emergency response efforts.
Residents have known as for stronger safety operations and sustained authorities intervention to forestall additional bloodshed, shield lives and property, and restore public confidence within the authorities.
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