Three people were killed on Wednesday when bandits attacked a school in Kabba/Bunu LGA of Kogi, disrupting an ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
A statement by Saliu Afusat, spokesperson of Kogi state police command, said the bandits killed the school vice principal, a six-year-old boy and a 70-year-old man during the attack.
The command said it received distress information around 10am that a large number of “heavily armed bandits, operating on about 40 motorcycles”, invaded Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, with the suspected intention of abducting students and other residents of the community.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Kabba ‘A’ Division, immediately activated a coordinated security response by mobilizing personnel from the Division, alongside operatives of the Police Mobile Force and the Command’s Tactical Teams,” the statement reads.
“Other security personnel already deployed in the area, including military personnel and local vigilante groups, were equally alerted and joined the operation.”
The command said combined security operatives engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, forcing them to flee into the surrounding bush.
In a separate statement, Kingsley Fanwo, the commissioner for information and communication, said “reports available to the government indicated that the bandits disrupted an ongoing WAEC examination”.
Fanwo said the attackers had already begun marching students into the bush when security operatives engaged them in a fierce gun battle.
The government thanked the military, local vigilantes, hunters, and other security personnel whose intervention prevented what it described as a potentially devastating mass abduction.
“Let it be clearly stated that Kogi State will not submit to terror. Criminal elements seeking to undermine the peace and security of our State will continue to meet a determined, coordinated, and uncompromising response from security agencies and the Government,” the statement reads.
According to the police, preliminary findings indicate there was “no conclusive evidence of a successful mass abduction of students or other residents”.
The police, however, said investigations and ongoing assessments are continuing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Regrettably, during the attack, three persons lost their lives. They include Mr. Ganiyu Anifowose, the Vice Principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke; Mr. Sunday Jacob Alhassan, aged 70 years; and one Sunday Ayele, aged 6 years,” the police said.
The command commiserated with the families of the deceased and assured them that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The police said one of the bandits was killed during the exchange of gunfire, while security operatives attached to the joint team sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The statement said the commissioner of police has ordered sustained bush-combing and confidence-building patrols across the affected area.
“Joint security operatives comprising the Police, military personnel, and local vigilantes are currently conducting intensive operations aimed at apprehending the fleeing criminals and preventing any further threat to lives and property,” the statement added.
“Members of the public are to remain calm, vigilant, and should continue to support security agencies with credible and timely information that will aid ongoing operations.
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“Further developments will be communicated as investigations and operations progress.”
The development comes amid growing public concern over an uptick in bandit attacks targeting schools across different parts of the country.
On May 15, about 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers were abducted by bandits across three schools in Oriire axis of Ogbomoso, Oyo state.
During the attack, gunmen killed an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist.
Days later, Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, was beheaded by the kidnappers, triggering nationwide outrage.
Also, on May 16, about 42 pupils and students were abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba LGA of Borno state.