Gunmen on motorcycles storm Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu; army, police claim attack was repelled
Bandits on Wednesday morning stormed Government Secondary School in Iluke Bunu, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing three people, including a school vice principal and abducting several students and residents, according to Daily Trust.
The attack, which occurred around 9:45 a.m., targeted students during their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Eyewitnesses said the assailants arrived on approximately 40 motorcycles, heavily armed.
Among those killed were Mr Ganiyu Anifowose, Vice Principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke; Mr Sunday Jacob Alhassan, 70; and Sunday Ayele, 6. Three students and several residents were also reported abducted.
The Nigerian Army said troops responded swiftly upon receiving intelligence and moved into the community, where they discovered assailants had assembled pupils of Iluke Primary School for abduction.
“The troops immediately engaged the terrorists, compelling them to abandon their mission and flee the area,” said Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 12 Brigade.
The Army, however, acknowledged that a teacher and a community resident had already been killed before troops arrived.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed that combined security forces, including police mobile units, military personnel, and local vigilante groups, engaged the gunmen in a firefight, forcing them into the surrounding bush. One bandit was killed during the exchange; a security operative was wounded and is receiving treatment.
Police said there is currently “no conclusive evidence of a successful mass abduction,” with investigations ongoing.
The Chairman of Kabba/Bunu LGA, Hon. Zacchaeus Dare Michael, described the incident as “unfortunate, barbaric, and unacceptable,” and extended condolences to the victims’ families. He stated that the local government is collaborating with security agencies to prevent a recurrence.
Joint security operations to apprehend the fleeing suspects remain ongoing.
