At least 62 people have died after armed attackers raided a remote village in northeastern Nigeria, the national emergency agency said. Officials warned that the final death toll could rise as recovery efforts continue.
Ladan Ayuba, who leads the National Emergency Management Agency in Taraba state, stated on Tuesday that thousands of residents fled their homes during the raid and remain displaced.
The assault struck Binnari village in Taraba on Friday. Bandits set fire to homes, shops, food supplies, and motorcycles, according to Amnesty International’s Nigeria branch.
Victor Mshelizah, the Taraba police spokesperson, outlined the ongoing search operations. "We still have men on the ground, and the more we recover bodies, we will put them in account," he said.
Nigeria has faced a security crisis for more than 15 years, starting when the Boko Haram armed group launched a rebellion against the central government. Civilians in the north frequently face attacks and kidnappings for ransom by armed gangs.
Amnesty International Nigeria criticised the government response in an official statement. The rights group argued that official measures to protect ordinary citizens are entirely inadequate.
"The Nigerian authorities continue to leave rural communities in some parts of the north at the mercy of gunmen that repeatedly commit atrocities with impunity," the group said.
The organisation called for concrete actions. "This attack must be investigated impartially, while survivors must be provided with adequate reparations," the statement added. "On the side of the authorities, issuing bland statements condemning these horrific attacks is not enough."
Numerous armed factions in Nigeria control illegal mining operations. Profits from these sites help finance their expansion by funding the purchase of more weaponry and the recruitment of members.
The Institute for Security Studies reported that this financial growth has driven a surge in arms smuggling and violence throughout the country and across the broader Sahel region.
