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At least 62 killed and thousands displaced in gunmen attack in northern Nigeria

At least 62 people have been killed after an attack in northeastern Nigeria, the country's emergency agency said.

Ladan Ayuba, the state head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said gunmen also wounded 52 other people and displaced thousands.

He said the attack took place on Friday in Binnari, in the Karim-Lamido local government area of Taraba State.

Amnesty International Nigeria said on X that the attack "shows utter disdain for the sanctity of life", adding: "Apart from killing people wantonly, the gunmen also burnt down foodstuff, homes, shops and motorcycles.

"The community is now littered with dead bodies, some burnt beyond recognition, as families declare many still missing."

According to NEMA officials, 52 bodies have been recovered so far, including 15 from the Benue River.

Taraba police spokesperson Victor Mshelizah told the Associated Press that more bodies are still being recovered.

Amnesty International Nigeria director Isa Sanusi told the news agency that "what happened was that people were chased towards the river; they launched into the river trying to escape the bandits".

The humanitarian group also accused Nigerian authorities of leaving "rural communities in some parts of the north at the mercy of gunmen that are repeatedly commit[ting] atrocities with impunity".

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Attacks by gunmen are common across Nigeria, particularly in the north, where armed groups regularly target civilians.

In August, an estimated 60 to 80 people were kidnapped when armed men stormed a mosque and six months prior, at least 32 people were killed as gunmen targeted multiple communities.

Nigeria also faces security issues from Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, and from bandits who carry out large-scale kidnapping for ransom and control illegal mine sites.

In February, more than 300 people - including women and children - were abducted by Islamic militants.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: At least 62 killed and thousands displaced in gunmen attack in northern Nigeria

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