Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State came under attack again yesterday when bandits invaded Government Secondary School in Iluke Bunu, killing the Vice Principal, Mr Gani Anifowose, a septuagenarian and a six-year-old boy.
Daily Trust learnt that the gunmen struck around 9.45am on Wednesday when students were sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Some students and residents were reportedly abducted, but the police said they could not confirm any mass abduction.
The incident added to a renewed wave of bandit attacks in recent times amid growing calls by groups and security experts on the government to double down on tackling escalating insecurity across the country.
A source told one of our correspondents that three students and some residents were kidnapped in the Wednesday attack.
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“The major target of the attack was UBE Iluke Bunu, where students from three communities were sitting the WASSCE 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 some residents were abducted in the attack,” the source said.
The Chairman of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Zacchaeus Dare Michael, condemned the attack, describing it as unfortunate, barbaric and unacceptable.
He sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives in the attack, assuring them that efforts were being intensified to arrest the culprits.
“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,” the chairman added.
The Kogi State Police Command in a statement by its spokesperson, ASP Afusat Oyiza Saliu, confirmed the vice principal’s killing. She identified the two other slain victims as one Mr Sunday Jacob Alhassan, 70, and a six-year-old boy, Sunday Ayele.
According to the statement, the command received distress information at about 10am that a large number of bandits on about 40 motorcycles had invaded Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu to abduct 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,” it added.
However, the police authorities noted that preliminary findings did not show conclusive evidence of a successful mass abduction of students or other residents, but said “investigations and ongoing assessments are continuing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”
The command assured that efforts were being made to bring the perpetrators to justice, adding that during the exchange of gunfire, a bandit was neutralised while security operatives sustained gunshot injuries and are receiving medical treatment.
Attacks on Kabba-Bunu
Several communities in Kabba-Bunu LGA had witnessed deadly attacks in recent months, resulting in killings and kidnapping of residents and travellers.
Bandits invaded Ayegunle Bunu community on June 1, killing two persons and abducting several others. Some of the victims were passengers travelling through the area when the attackers intercepted their vehicle. The police said 30 persons were kidnapped during the attack, comprising 26 males and four females.
In January 2026, at least three people were killed and about 30 residents were abducted when bandits attacked Ayetoro-Kiri community in Kabba-Bunu LGA. The incident forced many residents to flee their homes as security agencies launched rescue operations.
A community spokesperson, David Ampitan, in a statement, called for immediate intervention to secure the release of those still in captivity and restore security across the entire Bunu district.
Earlier, in December 2025, bandits attacked Ihalé and Olle communities, killing two persons and abducting several residents. In November 2025, two people were confirmed dead following an attempted attack on Kiri High School in Aiyetoro Kiri, also in Kabba-Bunu LGA.
The bandits reportedly stormed the school in what authorities described as an attempt to abduct students. The attack was, however, repelled by local vigilantes and hunters.
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