Gunmen kill at least 48 in Taraba village raid during Friday prayers
Unidentified gunmen on motorcycles attacked the village of Binnari in Taraba State, Nigeria, on Friday, October 24, 2026. The assault, which began immediately after midday Muslim prayers, lasted up to four hours. Police initially reported 10 deaths, but the toll rose to at least 48 as more bodies were recovered on Sunday. Amnesty International claims 52 people died. Attackers looted shops, burned homes, and fled via motorcycles. Survivors reported chaos as people fled in different directions. Authorities have deployed security forces to restore calm, though the attackers escaped. The incident highlights ongoing insecurity in rural northeastern Nigeria, where banditry and jihadist violence persist. The attack occurred ahead of next year’s elections, with insecurity expected to dominate political debates. Amnesty International has called for an impartial investigation, accusing authorities of leaving rural communities vulnerable to repeated atrocities.