Fear, grief and uncertainty have gripped Binnari community in Karim-Lamido local government council of Taraba state after suspected gunmen invaded the area in the early hours of Friday, killing ten people and setting houses ablaze.

The attack, which occurred in Amar Ward, Karim II Constituency, reportedly forced several residents to abandon their homes and flee to neighbouring communities in search of safety, leaving behind their belongings and sources of livelihood.

For many residents, the attack has brought renewed fears about their safety, as homes were reportedly burnt, foodstuffs destroyed and several people said to be missing in the aftermath of the violence.

The Taraba state police command confirmed the killings, describing the incident as an attack by unknown gunmen.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Mshelizah, disclosed this in a WhatsApp message to our reporter, adding that security personnel had been deployed to the affected community.

“There was an incident that happened yesterday, an attack by unknown gunmen that claimed the lives of 10 people. We currently have men deployed there,” Mshelizah said.

Although the police confirmed the death toll, the command did not provide further details about how the attack unfolded or the identities of the victims.

Local sources alleged that the attackers, suspected to have crossed into Taraba from neighbouring Plateau state, stormed the community unexpectedly, leaving residents struggling to escape the violence.

The assailants reportedly killed residents, set houses on fire and destroyed foodstuffs said to be worth millions of naira, worsening the hardship faced by families in the affected area.

Beyond the reported deaths and destruction, the attack has raised concerns about the fate of residents whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Some residents reportedly fled to neighbouring communities, seeking shelter and protection from further attacks, while families were left uncertain about the safety of their loved ones.

Residents also alleged that distress calls were made during the attack but that security assistance arrived too late to prevent the killings and destruction.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged delay in security intervention have not been independently established, while the police have yet to provide further details about their response to the incident.

The attack has renewed calls for urgent intervention by the Taraba state government and security agencies to protect vulnerable communities in Karim-Lamido and prevent further loss of lives.

Residents who bared their minds to The Guardian via telephones, urged the state and federal governments to deploy additional security personnel to Binnari and surrounding communities, provide relief materials for displaced families and help residents whose homes and food supplies were destroyed.

They also called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killings, insisting that affected families need protection and support as they struggle to recover from the attack.

As security personnel are deployed to the area, residents are left to grapple with the reported loss of 10 lives, the destruction of property and the uncertainty surrounding those still missing.

The police have yet to announce any arrests in connection with the attack, as at the time of filing this report.