Abuja, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
At least 58 people have been killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen on a community in Nigeria’s northeastern Taraba State, with rescue teams continuing searches for victims who remain missing.
Taraba State police spokesperson Victor Mshelizah said the death toll rose to 58 after 15 additional bodies were recovered on Sunday from areas surrounding Binnari community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area.
The attack took place on Friday during the community’s weekly market day. According to the police official, bodies were recovered from nearby bushes and a river as authorities continued search operations.
An overloaded canoe carrying victims attempting to reach a neighbouring community capsized during the journey, raising fears that more people may have drowned. The number of missing people was not immediately known.
Local media reports said security personnel initially recovered more than 40 bodies. The gunmen reportedly opened fire indiscriminately during an attack that lasted around four hours, while several houses were set ablaze and families forced to flee.
The Taraba State government said it had begun distributing relief materials to survivors and families affected by the violence. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Taraba has experienced deadly violence linked to communal clashes, banditry and ethno-religious tensions.
The latest killings come amid continuing security challenges in other parts of Nigeria. Earlier this month, at least 22 people, including four security personnel, were killed when suspected terrorists ambushed a convoy travelling under security escort in northwestern Zamfara State.
The victims were traders heading to a weekly market near Gurusu village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area when the attack occurred on October 11, according to local accounts. A military spokesperson confirmed the deaths of four security personnel accompanying the convoy.
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