TARABA — At least 62 people have been killed in a gun attack on a remote village in northeastern Nigeria, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the death toll following the attack in Taraba state. Ladan Ayuba, the agency’s head in the state, said on Tuesday that thousands of people had been displaced by the violence.
Amnesty International’s Nigeria office said gunmen attacked the village of Binnari on Friday, setting fire to homes, shops, food supplies and motorcycles.
Taraba police spokesperson Victor Sheligya told the Associated Press that security personnel were still at the scene and that the death toll would be updated as additional bodies were recovered.
“More bodies will be added to the count as they are recovered,” he said.
Nigeria has faced a prolonged security crisis since the Boko Haram insurgency began more than 15 years ago. Civilians in the country’s northern regions have also been targeted by armed groups involved in attacks, kidnappings for ransom and other forms of violence.
In a statement, Amnesty International criticised the authorities for failing to adequately protect civilians, saying rural communities in parts of northern Nigeria had effectively been left at the mercy of gunmen who repeatedly commit atrocities with impunity.
The rights group called for an impartial investigation into the attack and adequate compensation for survivors, arguing that routine statements condemning such violence were not enough.
Illegal mining operations have also become a source of funding for armed groups in Nigeria. Profits from the activities enable them to acquire more weapons and recruit fighters, strengthening their operational capacity.
According to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the situation has contributed to increased arms trafficking and violence across Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.
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