At least 10 people have been killed after suspected bandits attacked Binnari community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, leaving homes and shops burnt and residents in fear.

The attack reportedly occurred on Friday, October 23, 2026, when a large group of armed men invaded the community and opened fire. The assailants were also said to have looted food items from shops before setting several buildings ablaze.

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

According to the police, the attack happened at about 3 p.m., shortly after Jumu’ah prayers. The statement said the gunmen entered Binnari Village with heavy gunfire, triggering panic among residents.

Police operatives were mobilised to the community after receiving a report from the Officer-in-Charge of Binnari. Officers subsequently recovered 10 bodies bearing gunshot wounds, which were handed over to the victims’ families for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

The attackers were suspected of having crossed into Taraba from neighbouring Plateau State, although the circumstances of their movement and the identities of those responsible had not been established in the statement.

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

The Commissioner of Police in Taraba State, CP Edwin Ogbegaghagha, directed security personnel to sustain coordinated operations and take necessary steps to apprehend the perpetrators. The command also urged residents to remain calm, avoid circulating unverified information and report suspicious movements to security agencies.

As of the report’s publication, the Taraba State Government had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. The attack has renewed concerns about security in Binnari and surrounding communities, with residents facing the consequences of deadly violence and damage to homes and businesses.