Gunmen attacked Binnari community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State. Ten people were killed. The attack occurred in the early hours of Friday in Amar Ward, Karim II Constituency. Local sources said the assailants crossed into the area from neighbouring Plateau State. They stormed the community unexpectedly. They killed residents. They set houses ablaze. They destroyed foodstuffs worth millions of naira. Residents fled to neighbouring communities. Some are missing.
Taraba has a long history of communal violence. Farmer-herder clashes have killed thousands. Cross-border attacks from Plateau State are common. In 2022, gunmen killed dozens in Karim-Lamido. In 2024, similar attacks displaced communities in the same area. The pattern reflects weak security presence in rural Taraba. Distress calls often go unanswered. Response times are slow. The attackers exploit the gaps.
The police spokesperson in the state, Victor Mshelizah, confirmed the killings. “There was an incident that happened yesterday, an attack by unknown gunmen that claimed the lives of ten people,” he said. “We currently have men deployed there.” The police did not provide further details. They did not identify the perpetrators. They did not confirm the destruction of property or the missing persons. Local sources said residents made distress calls during the attack. Security assistance arrived too late. The incident has heightened concerns over insecurity in Karim-Lamido. Residents are calling on the state government and security agencies to strengthen security.
Winners: The attackers, who escaped. No one else. Losers: The 10 killed and their families. Residents who fled. Those still missing. Communities that lost homes and food supplies. The police, whose response was late. The Taraba State Government, whose security promise rings hollow.
Bottom Line: Gunmen killed 10 people and burned a community. The police deployed men after the fact. The attackers crossed from Plateau and returned. Taraba’s rural areas remain unprotected. The state government must act before the next attack.