By Stephen Simon
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has extended the designation of Karim-Lamido Local Government Area as an area of particular security concern for another six months following the deadly attack on Binnari community.
The decision was announced after an emergency security meeting in Jalingo on Monday, as the state government moved to strengthen security measures and support residents affected by the violence.
The attack occurred on October 23, when gunmen invaded Binnari during its weekly market day, killing residents, looting shops and setting buildings ablaze.
The Taraba State Police Command put the death toll at 58, including 15 people who reportedly drowned when an overloaded canoe capsized as they attempted to escape. However, an Associated Press report on Tuesday cited an emergency management official who put the death toll at 62, illustrating the continuing uncertainty surrounding the full casualty figure.
The attack has also left families searching for missing relatives and raised fresh concerns about the safety of rural communities where residents depend on periodic markets for their livelihoods.
Kefas directed security agencies to investigate the attackers’ movements and possible motives, locate missing persons and take measures to prevent further violence.
The government has also begun providing emergency relief materials to affected residents.
The attack has also left families searching for missing relatives and raised fresh concerns about the safety of rural communities where residents depend on periodic markets for their livelihoods.
Kefas directed security agencies to investigate the attackers’ movements and possible motives, locate missing persons and take measures to prevent further violence.
The government has also begun providing emergency relief materials to affected residents.
The six-month extension is intended to sustain heightened security attention in Karim-Lamido. However, the immediate challenge remains translating the designation into effective protection for residents and preventing another deadly attack.
