By Frontline Reporters

At least 37 people have been confirmed killed after suspected bandits attacked Binnari community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, setting houses and shops ablaze and looting food items.

The attackers, reportedly large in number, stormed the community on Friday, October 23, firing sporadically and throwing residents into panic.

Although initial reports put the death toll at 10, further searches conducted by community leaders and youths in nearby bushes and rivers reportedly led to the recovery of 37 bodies.

The assailants are suspected to have crossed into Taraba State from neighbouring Plateau State. Karim Lamido Local Government Area shares boundaries with Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Nasarawa states, making security coordination in the area particularly important.

The Taraba State Police Command confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Saturday by its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah.

According to the police, the incident occurred at about 3 p.m. on Friday, shortly after Jumu’ah prayers.

“The Taraba State Police Command regrets to inform the general public of an attack by suspected armed bandits on Binnari Village on 23 October 2026 at about 1500 hours, shortly after Jumu’ah prayers,” the statement said.

The command added that the attackers invaded the village with heavy gunfire, looted food items from shops and caused widespread panic among residents.

Police operatives were reportedly mobilised to the community after receiving information from the Officer-in-Charge of Binnari. On arrival, they recovered 10 bodies bearing gunshot wounds.

The bodies were subsequently handed over to their families for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

In response to the attack, the police command said additional personnel had been placed on red alert, while joint reinforcement teams comprising police tactical units, the Police Mobile Force, conventional police, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies had been deployed to the area.

The deployment, according to the police, is intended to prevent further attacks, maintain public order and protect residents.

The Commissioner of Police in Taraba State, CP Edwin Ogbegaghagha, directed security operatives to sustain coordinated operations, apprehend those responsible and take measures to forestall further violence.

The command expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property.

It also urged residents to remain calm, refrain from circulating unverified information and promptly report suspicious movements or credible security intelligence to the nearest police station or relevant security agency.

Meanwhile, the Taraba State Government had yet to issue an official statement on the attack or announce additional security measures at the time of this report.

Binnari and neighbouring communities have previously been identified by security agencies and the government as areas of security concern.

The latest killings have renewed concerns over the effectiveness of existing security arrangements and the capacity of security agencies to prevent attacks in vulnerable border communities.

The incident also underscores the urgent need for strengthened intelligence gathering, improved inter-state security cooperation and sustained security operations to protect rural communities from armed attacks.

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