Fear and grief have gripped the Iluke Bunu community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State after armed bandits invaded the area, killing a school vice principal and two other residents during an attack that disrupted an ongoing WAEC examination.
The deadly incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, June 10, 2026, when the gunmen, reportedly dressed in military uniforms, stormed Government Secondary School, Iluke.
Among those killed was the school’s Vice Principal, identified as Mr. Gani Anifowose. Two other community members also lost their lives in the attack, bringing the confirmed death toll to three.
The assailants reportedly targeted students sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) English Language examination, triggering panic among candidates and residents.
Initial reports suggested that three students had been abducted during the invasion. However, the Kogi State Government later disclosed that security operatives successfully foiled what appeared to be a larger plot to kidnap several WAEC candidates.
Military personnel, local vigilantes and hunters reportedly responded swiftly to distress calls, leading to a fierce gun battle with the attackers.
During the exchange of gunfire, one of the bandits was neutralised, while the remaining suspects fled the scene with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
Authorities confirmed that all the students who had been taken away during the attack were rescued unharmed.
Residents of the community, however, expressed concerns over what they described as delays in the initial security response, noting that fear has continued to spread across communities along the Kogi-Kwara border, an area that has witnessed repeated incidents of banditry and kidnapping.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Executive Chairman of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Hon. Zacchaeus Dare Michael, condemned the attack.
He described the incident as “unfortunate, barbaric and unacceptable,” while extending condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
The council chairman assured residents that authorities remained committed to protecting lives and property and called for the urgent deployment of Nigerian Army personnel to the newly constructed Forward Operating Base in Iluke Bunu.
He also appealed for increased police presence in the area and commended local security operatives for their bravery in preventing what could have become a mass abduction.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, also described the attack as tragic but praised the swift intervention of security agencies.
According to him, the prompt response prevented a larger disaster involving students participating in the WAEC examination.
He assured residents that the state government was taking steps to strengthen security across vulnerable communities and urged the public to remain calm, vigilant and supportive of ongoing security operations.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over the safety of schools and examination centres across Nigeria, particularly as incidents of kidnappings and violent attacks continue to threaten education in several parts of the country.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies were continuing operations to track down the fleeing suspects, while investigations into the attack remained ongoing.
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