Bandits kill 62 in Taraba market attack
Armed bandits on motorbikes stormed Binnari community, opening fire on residents and traders.
Armed bandits on motorbikes attacked Binnari community in Taraba State on Friday, October 23, 2026, killing 62 people and injuring 52 others. The attackers stormed the rural community, which relies on farming, fishing, and trade, opening fire on residents and traders gathered for market day. Property was destroyed and stores were looted during the violent interruption of daily activities.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that 5,187 residents were displaced and a total of 7,123 people were affected by the attack. These figures followed an assessment by the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA). Survivors described losing homes, belongings, and livelihoods, with farmers unable to return to their fields.
The attack has disrupted the lives of Binnari residents, threatening their means of survival. The community's market, a vital meeting point for people from Taraba and neighbouring states like Plateau, Gombe, and Bauchi, has been impacted. Farmers, fishermen, and livestock owners can no longer conduct their usual exchanges to sustain their families.
Why it mattersResidents of Binnari, Taraba State, are directly affected by the bandit attack, facing death, injury, displacement, and the loss of their livelihoods.