Bandits attack school during WAEC exam, kill Vice Principal in Kogi

Bandits have killed a vice principal and two other residents during a violent attack on Iluke Bunu community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Authorities say the incident was a failed attempt to abduct students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The students sat for their English language exams across Nigeria today.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday morning, June 10, 2026, targeted UBE Iluke Bunu school, where candidates were writing their WAEC English exams when the gunmen invaded the community.

During the assault, Mr Gani Anifowose, the vice principal of Government Secondary School, Aharha-Bunu, was killed alongside two other community members. 

The incident sparked panic as the attackers attempted to forcefully march students into nearby bushes.

Security sources said troops of the Nigerian Army stationed at Suku-Kiri Bunu responded swiftly to a distress call and moved into the community, engaging the attackers in a gun duel that eventually foiled the mass abduction.

The Kogi State Government confirmed the incident, describing it as a terrorist attack and praising the rapid response of security operatives and local vigilante groups that prevented what could have been a large-scale school kidnapping.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the attackers were said to have disguised themselves in military uniforms in an attempt to deceive residents before launching the assault on the examination centre.

Fanwo confirmed that three people were killed in total, including the vice principal, while all WAEC candidates at the school were successfully rescued without injury.

According to him, the combined efforts of soldiers, vigilantes, and local hunters led to a fierce exchange of gunfire, during which one of the attackers was neutralised while others fled with gunshot wounds.

“The attackers disrupted an ongoing WAEC examination and had already begun marching students into the bush when security operatives engaged them in a fierce gun battle,” the statement read.

It added that the superior response of the security forces ensured the safe rescue of all students and prevented a mass abduction similar to previous school kidnapping incidents in parts of Nigeria.

The state government further disclosed that security agencies have launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects and are intensifying operations to apprehend all those connected to the attack.

Authorities also commended the bravery of military personnel, local vigilantes, and hunters who responded quickly to the emergency, describing their intervention as critical in saving the lives of the students.

The government assured residents that additional security measures would be deployed in the affected area and across vulnerable communities in the state to prevent future attacks.

It urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence that could help in ongoing operations.

Reaffirming its stance, the government stated that Kogi State would not surrender to criminal elements, adding that decisive action would continue against those threatening peace and security in the region.

Meanwhile, condolences have been extended to the families of the deceased, as the community mourns the loss of the vice principal and other victims of the attack.

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