Bandits have invaded Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State, killing three persons, including the Vice Principal, Mr. Gani Anifowose, and two others, while abducting some students.
According to some residents, the incident happened around 9:45am on Wednesday.
This is just as two members of a bandits’ gang terrorising residents of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) have been shot dead.
CP Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, FCT Police Commissioner, who disclosed this to newsmen at the Command Headquarters on Wednesday, said the he led the operation that led to their deaths.
The gang, he said, was trailed over the abduction of five residents of Paze community in Byazhin ward of Bwari Area Council last week.
Earlier, five people, including a Pastor, were reportedly abducted while a local vigilante member identified as Shuaibu Yerima was shot dead after bandits invaded Paze community last Thursday.
The bandits were said to have targeted Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu Kogi State students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“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,” the source said.
The Chairman of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Hon. (Barr.) Zacchaeus Dare Michael, has condemned the attack, describing the incident “as unfortunate, barbaric, and unacceptable.”
The Chairman expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who had lost their lives in the attack , assuring that efforts were being made to arrest the culprits.
He assured residents of the Local Government’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property across all communities within the area.
“The Local Government Administration is working closely with relevant security agencies and stakeholders to ensure that lasting measures are put in place to forestall any recurrence of such attacks,” he said.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the attack in a statement, saying three persons lost their lives in the invasion: 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.
“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,” statement read.
Meanwhile, the police noted that “during the exchange of gunfire, one of the bandits was neutralized, while a security operative attached to the joint team sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment”.
Police further stated that Joint security operatives comprising the Police, military personnel, and local vigilantes were currently conducting intensive operations aimed at apprehending the fleeing criminals and preventing any further threat to lives and property.
The FCT Police Commissioner said that the kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation involving a team comprising operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the NPF Intelligence Response Team (IRT), and Kubwa Area Command, in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups.
He said it was at approximately 9:00 p:m on Tuesday, when he led the joint security team to launched an intensive search, clearance, and rescue operation across Paze and Byazhin communities.
The operation reportedly led to the arrest of suspects identified as Icheh Mohammadu and Abubakar Usman, while other gang members reportedly fled into nearby hills.
“And during the operation, the police team also recovered two AK-47 rifles with magazines, while two of the gang members were arrested during the crossfire,” he said.
CP Sanusi said the five rescued victims have since been taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention, while efforts are on-going to reunite them with their families.
He said that while search operations continue across the general area and adjoining communities with the aim at apprehending the fleeing suspects and dismantling the criminal network.
He also called on healthcare practitioners, private and public hospitals and members of the public to promptly report any individual presenting gunshot related injuries or seeking treatment under suspicious circumstances.
