A fresh wave of insecurity hit Kogi State on Wednesday as armed bandits invaded a secondary school in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, killing three people, including a vice principal, during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The attack occurred at Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, around 9:45 a.m. while students were writing their examinations.
Among those killed were the Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Aharha-Bunu, Gani Anifowose, a 70-year-old resident identified as Sunday Jacob Alhassan, and a six-year-old boy, Sunday Ayele.
Reports from the community reveal that some students and residents were abducted during the attack.
However, the Kogi State Police Command said investigations were still ongoing and that it could not yet confirm reports of a mass abduction.
According to police authorities, the attackers arrived in large numbers on about 40 motorcycles before storming the area.
Security operatives, including police personnel, tactical teams, military officers, and local vigilantes, responded swiftly and engaged the gunmen in a fierce exchange of gunfire, forcing them to retreat into nearby forests.
The police disclosed that one of the bandits was killed during the operation, while some security personnel sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
The Chairman of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, Zacchaeus Dare Michael, condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable. He assured residents that efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible and prevent future attacks.
The incident adds to a growing list of violent attacks in Kabba-Bunu and surrounding communities. Earlier this month, bandits reportedly killed two people and abducted dozens during an attack in Ayegunle Bunu.
Similar incidents in recent months have left several communities grappling with killings, kidnappings, and mass displacement.
Meanwhile, concerns over school safety continue to grow across the country.
In Edo State, authorities have temporarily shut down three secondary schools in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area following intelligence reports of planned kidnappings of schoolchildren.
The worsening security situation has also drawn criticism from various groups and stakeholders.
The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria and the Northern Elders Forum both expressed concern over rising cases of killings, kidnappings, and terrorist attacks, urging the Federal Government to declare a national security emergency and adopt more aggressive measures to tackle insecurity.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar similarly condemned the Kogi school attack, describing it as a direct assault on education and a national embarrassment.
He called for emergency security measures that would allow security commanders to act more decisively against criminal groups.
Security experts have also urged governments at all levels to strengthen protection around schools, particularly those in vulnerable areas, warning that continued attacks on educational institutions could severely undermine learning and public confidence in the education system.
