Suspected bandits have reportedly killed dozens of people in an assault on Binnari, a community in Taraba State’s Karim Lamido Local Government Area, with homes set ablaze and food supplies valued at millions of naira destroyed.
The attackers were believed to have entered from neighbouring Plateau State before striking Binnari, located in Amar Ward of the Karim II Constituency, during the early hours of Friday. Residents were reportedly killed, while houses were burned and stored food was ruined.
Many people fled to nearby communities as the violence unfolded, while a number of residents were still reported missing. Binnari sits near the Plateau border and has faced repeated security incidents in recent months, including alleged bandit attacks, abductions and retaliatory violence.
Community members said they issued emergency alerts during the raid, but security personnel arrived after the killings and property destruction had already occurred.
The incident has intensified anxiety over safety in the area. Residents appealed to the Taraba State Government and security authorities to act quickly to safeguard people and assets.
They asked both state and federal authorities to send more security personnel to Binnari, deliver emergency assistance to displaced households, and ensure those behind the attack are arrested and prosecuted.
Dr. Tijo Kenneth Mingeh, the Accord Party candidate for the Ardo-Kola, Karim Lamido and Lau Federal Constituency, denounced the reported killings and damage in Binnari.
Mingeh said he was troubled by the deaths, the destruction of homes and shops, and the pressure placed on communities across the constituency by persistent attacks.
He called for joint security operations aimed at defending exposed communities, improving intelligence collection and stopping additional raids.
The Accord Party candidate also urged security agencies to expand monitoring throughout the affected locations, capture those responsible and bring them before the justice system.
Mingeh said families hit by the attack required sufficient support, adding that continuing insecurity was undermining rural livelihoods because many residents rely on agriculture for their income and survival.
He urged security services, government institutions, traditional and community leaders, and local residents to work together to return peace and stability to Binnari and surrounding settlements.
A.M. Lauya, the sitting House of Representatives member for the Ardo-Kola, Karim Lamido and Lau Federal Constituency, likewise condemned the attack. He expressed concern over the reported deaths of civilians, the burning of homes and businesses, and the fear and economic hardship caused by insecurity in the affected communities.
Lauya called for immediate, coordinated security action to protect at-risk communities, reinforce intelligence work, avert further violence, and ensure the alleged perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.
He also stressed that families affected by the tragedy should receive adequate assistance.
The lawmaker said lasting peace and safety in the affected areas would require a collective response from security agencies, relevant government bodies, community leaders and residents.
At the time of reporting, neither the Taraba State Government nor security agencies had issued official confirmation of the reported number of deaths or details of the circumstances surrounding the attack.
