TDA tragic incident unfolded in Iluke Bunu community of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi State, on Wednesday morning when armed bandits stormed Government Secondary School in what authorities believe was an attempted mass abduction.
The attack, which occurred around 10:00 a.m., left three people dead, including a school vice principal and a six-year-old child.
The Attack
According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, the assailants arrived on approximately 40 motorcycles, heavily armed and intent on abducting students and residents.
Panic spread quickly through the school and surrounding community as the attackers opened fire.
Their operation was cut short when security forces responded swiftly, engaging the bandits in a fierce gun battle.
Casualties
Despite the intervention, three lives were lost in the chaos:
- Mr. Ganiyu Anifowose, Vice Principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke
- Mr. Sunday Jacob Alhassan, aged 70
- Sunday Ayele, a six-year-old child
The deaths have plunged the community into mourning, with residents expressing shock and grief over the loss of both educators and children.
One of the bandits was neutralized during the exchange, while a security operative sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Police Response
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident in an official press release.
The statement noted that the attack was successfully repelled through a coordinated response involving police operatives, mobile force units, tactical teams, military personnel, and local vigilantes.
The Commissioner of Police has ordered sustained bush-combing operations and confidence-building patrols across the affected area to reassure residents and prevent further attacks.
Preliminary findings suggest that no mass abduction occurred, though investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances.
Authorities have urged members of the public to remain calm, vigilant, and to provide credible information that could aid in apprehending the fleeing criminals.
Community Impact
The incident highlights the persistent threat of banditry in Nigeria’s North-Central region, where schools and rural communities remain vulnerable to violent attacks.
The deaths of a respected vice principal, an elderly resident, and a young child underscore the indiscriminate nature of such violence.
Local leaders have called for stronger security measures to protect schools and ensure that children can learn in safety.
As operations continue, the families of the deceased have been assured that justice will be pursued.
The community, though shaken, is rallying together in grief and resilience, determined not to be cowed by the menace of banditry.
