Amidst hopes of return of those already in captivity, bandits struck again this morning, this time at Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
There, they killed three persons, including the Vice Principal, Mr. Gani Anifowose, and two others, and took away some students.
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the attack in a statement, saying three persons lost their lives in the invasion.
It listed the casualties 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 mobilizing personnel from the Division, alongside operatives of the Police Mobile Force and the Command’s Tactical Teams.
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“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.
“Investigations and ongoing assessments are continuing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” statement read .
Reports say that the bandits targeted students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), majorly from three communities
The Chairman of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Hon. (Barr) Zacchaeus Dare Michael, while confirming the incident added that it was being investigated by security agencies.
