Terrorists Kill Vice Principal, Two Others In Kogi, Edo Shuts Schools

Almost a month after terrorists attacked three schools in Oyo State, abducting no fewer than 40 pupils, alongside teachers, they again struck at Iluke Bunu in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State yesterday, killing a vice principal and two others, as well as kidnapping three students who were about to write WAEC examination.

The attack came on a day the Edo State Government ordered immediate closure of three secondary schools in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, following intelligence reports of a planned kidnap attack targeting students.

This is even as there was pandemonium in Minna, the Niger State capital, yesterday as parents stormed schools to withdraw their children, amid rumours of terrorists’ invasion of the city.

In Lagos, there was also panic in schools located in Ojokoro area of the city, following what turned out to be a prank over alleged kidnapping of students and teachers, prompting parents to besiege the schools to withdraw their children.

Consequently, Northern elders, under the auspices of Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has asked President Bola Tinubu to urgently declare a national security emergency, saying Nigeria is bleeding.

The attack in Kogi, which occurred in the early hours of yesterday, threw the community into mourning and heightened concerns over the security situation in the area.

Community sources identified the deceased as Mr. Gani Anifowose, Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Iluke, who was reportedly killed along with two others during the invasion by the assailants.

Residents disclosed that the attackers operated for hours, creating fear and confusion within the community.

Three students of the community said to be writing the English Language paper in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, were said to have been abducted by the terrorists.

Reacting to the attack,  Kogi State Police Command said it successfully repelled it, saying it prevented what could have been mass abduction of students.

The command in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Adusat Salihu, said the attackers came for the WAEC students writing the English Language paper.

The statement read: “At about 10:00 a.m, the command received distress information that a large number of heavily armed bandits operating on about 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 battle, forcing the criminals to flee into the surrounding bush. Preliminary findings indicate that there is currently no conclusive evidence of a successful mass abduction of students or other residents. “However, 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 command commiserates with the families of the deceased and assures them that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“During the exchange of gunfire, one of the bandits was neutralised, while security operatives attached to the joint team sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State command, has ordered sustained bush-combing and confidence-building patrols across the affected area.

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