10 killed as armed bandits raid Taraba community, loot food stores

By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo No fewer than ten residents were reportedly gunned down on Friday afternoon when a large gang of heavily armed bandits invaded Binnari village in Taraba State, unleashing intense gunfire and looting food supplies from shops. According to a police statement issued by the Taraba State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, the tragic attack occurred on Friday, October 23, 2026, at about 3:00 p.m., shortly after residents concluded Jumu’ah prayers.

The assailants, numbering in their dozens, threw the rural community into pandemonium as they shot indiscriminately before pillaging food items and provision stores. Operatives attached to the Binnari police station, upon receiving distress calls, mobilised to the scene alongside community volunteers, recovering ten corpses bearing fatal gunshot wounds.

The victims have since been handed over to their respective families and buried in accordance with Islamic rites. Reacting to the carnage, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Edwin Ogbeghagha, placed security formations across the area on red alert and ordered the immediate deployment of joint tactical teams comprising the Nigeria Police Force, Police Mobile Force (PMF), and the Nigerian Army to comb the surrounding terrain.

The command urged residents of Binnari and neighbouring settlements to remain calm, avoid panic peddling, and cooperate with security operatives by sharing actionable intelligence that will lead to the apprehension of the fleeing attackers.