An unspecified number of students have been abducted in Kogi state following terrorists’ attack on a Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu.
Three people were also gunned down, including the Vice Principal, Mr Gani Anifowose, during the deadly invasion of the school in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area.
Some Locals said the terrorists targeted students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the attack which happened on Wednesday morning.
“The major target of the attack was UBE Iluke Bunu, where students from three communities were sitting for their WAEC examination at the time of the invasion.”
“The Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Aharha-Bunu, Mr Gani Anifowose, was killed alongside two other persons. Three students and several residents were abducted in the attack,” Daily Trust quoted a source as saying.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the attack in a statement, adding that the heavily armed assailants stormed the school in large numbers.
The police identified the deceased as 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.
“At about 10:00 a.m., the Command received distress information that a large number of heavily armed bandits, operating on about forty (40) motorcycles, had 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 mobilising personnel from the Division, alongside operatives of the Police Mobile Force and the Command’s Tactical Teams.
“Other security personnel already deployed in the area, including military personnel and local vigilante groups, were equally alerted and joined the operation.
“The combined security operatives engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, forcing the criminals to flee into the surrounding bush”, the command said in a statement signed by ASP Saliu Oyiza, the police command’s spokesperson.
However, the police authorities noted that preliminary findings indicate that there is presently no conclusive evidence of a successful mass abduction of students or other residents.
“Investigations and ongoing assessments are continuing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” the statement read.
