Bandits attacked Binnari village in Nigeria's northeastern Taraba state, setting fire to homes, shops and food stores as the confirmed death toll climbed to 62. The assault is the latest in a wave of armed violence straining the region's security forces.

Gunmen believed to be bandits stormed Binnari village in Nigeria's Taraba state overnight, setting fire to homes, shops, food stores and motorcycles as residents fled into surrounding bushland. Local officials said the confirmed death toll has risen to 62, with the number expected to climb further as search teams reach outlying farmsteads. The attack is the latest in a string of raids that have hit communities across Nigeria's volatile north-east in recent weeks.

Nigeria's security forces have faced mounting criticism for failing to prevent repeated bandit attacks despite deploying additional troops to Taraba and neighbouring states earlier this month. The state governor's office said reinforcements have been sent to Binnari and surrounding villages, while survivors described a chaotic night of gunfire and burning structures. Analysts link the surge in rural banditry to competition over grazing land, cattle rustling and weak policing across much of northern Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu's government, already under pressure over worsening security in the north-east, has promised a renewed military operation to clear armed groups from the Taraba-Benue border region. Humanitarian groups warn that thousands of displaced residents need shelter, food and medical aid, adding further strain to a region already battling recurring communal violence.