Gunmen invade Taraba community, leave residents dead, steal motorcycles

A number of people who included women and children were killed when gunmen raided Binnari town in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.

It was discovered that the gunmen, who rode motorcycles, stormed the town around 3pm and started shooting from various directions and killing several people and injuring others.

A community leader in the area, Alhaji Tanko Andami, who spoke with Daily Trust by telephone, said the attackers invaded the town on Friday, which is a market day, and began shooting at residents.

He said the gunmen arrived on about 50 motorcycles, with two men on each motorcycle.

Andami said the attackers, after killing residents, looted shops and carted away cash, foodstuffs and other provisions.

He added that the gunmen also took away new motorcycles whose owners abandoned them while fleeing the attack.

According to him, the attackers were among the bandits who had taken control of several communities in the area and were operating around the Plateau and Bauchi borders with Taraba State.

“We are going to conduct the burial of those killed in the attack this morning.

“We appeal to the Taraba State governor and security agencies to pay special attention to Karim-Lamido Local Government Area because many communities are under the control of bandits who operate around the Plateau and Bauchi border areas with Taraba State,” he said.

Another resident of Binnari, Yahuza Binnari, who fled to a nearby village, said the attackers invaded the town shortly after Friday prayers, when the market was crowded.

He said the attackers blocked the entrances to the town, while others moved into the market, which was busy because it was a market day, and started shooting in different directions.

“There was total confusion in the town as people ran in different directions.

“When the attackers left, we counted more than 18 dead bodies, while several others were still missing.

“We are going to conduct the burial of those killed and search for the missing people,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Taraba State Command, ASP Victor Mshelizah, confirmed the attack.

He, however, said 10 people were killed in the incident and that police personnel had been deployed to the affected area.