Bandits have unleashed terror on the Iluke Bunu community in Kogi State, killing the Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Iluke, and abducting candidates preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) tests. The attack has plunged the community into grief and tension.
Details of the Attack
The school principal, identified as Gani Anifowose, was gruesomely killed during the assault by armed bandits on Wednesday morning. Residents report that the community is now under serious security threat, with fear and panic spreading across the area. In a related development, students from three communities scheduled to sit for the English Language WAEC test were kidnapped, raising fresh concerns about the safety of students, teachers, and residents in vulnerable communities across Kogi.
A representative of the community association has called on security agencies and relevant authorities to urgently intensify efforts to restore peace, secure the affected communities, and ensure the safe return of all abducted victims.
Niger State School Scare
In Minna, Niger State, pupils abruptly ended academic activities and fled to their homes due to fears of a bandit invasion of the state capital. However, the police have debunked reports that schools in Bosso, Kpakungu, Sabon-Wuse, and Lambata local councils were attacked by hoodlums. Niger Police Command spokesman, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated that after visiting all the mentioned schools, no such attack occurred. He urged the public to disregard the false information, which he said likely originated from mischief-makers aiming to cause panic.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman, had earlier directed Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to work closely with school administrators under school protection initiatives and to ensure police visibility patrols around schools for the safety of students, staff, and the community. He also provided contact numbers for reporting observations: 0703 196 4389, 0803 223 3454, and 0916 880 2621.
According to reports, Niger pupils did not wait for closing time before fleeing over fears that bandits might have stormed their schools. Parents, who heard rumors of a possible invasion of Minna by terrorists, called school heads to confirm whether schools had been closed for the day. The principal of a Catholic school, a nun speaking on condition of anonymity, said she also heard the rumor and that most children in her school fled hurriedly.
Edo State School Closures
In Edo State, the government has shut three public secondary schools in Akoko-Edo Local Council until further notice due to growing insecurity. The affected schools are Ososo Grammar School, Ososo; Ososo Comprehensive High School, Ososo; and Makeke Secondary School, Makeke. The decision follows a leaked memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) to the State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) about an uncovered planned abduction in public schools in Edo North. The memo also indicated that a communication between two suspects plotting the abduction was intercepted, and a suspected spy had been arrested in one of the public schools.
Clarifying the shutdown, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Ebojele, said: “This decision has been taken by Governor Monday Okpebholo as part of the government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens, particularly students, teachers, and school personnel. All academic and non-academic activities in the affected schools are suspended with immediate effect, pending further directives from the government. However, students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will be allowed access to their examination centres under strict security arrangements coordinated by school authorities, security agencies, and community leaders.”
The statement directed principals of the affected schools to ensure the safe and orderly release of students to their parents and guardians, secure all school facilities throughout the closure period, maintain regular communication with the state government, the Chief Inspector of Education, and relevant security agencies, and strictly comply with any additional directives issued by the government. Ebojele urged parents, guardians, and residents of the affected communities to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperate fully with security agencies as efforts are intensified to maintain peace and ensure public safety.
