- Declare State Of Emergency Now, Atiku Tells Tinubu
- Says Attacks On Schools May Cripple Education, Stall Development
- Bandits Plotting Mass Kidnapping Of Schoolchildren In Edo — DSS Warns
Nigeria’s education sector came under renewed attack on Tuesday as suspected bandits stormed a secondary school in Kogi State, killing three people and attempting to abduct students writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The attack occurred at Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Bunu District of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, sending panic through the community and reigniting concerns over the safety of schools across the country.
TheMatrix Newspaper gathered that the heavily armed attackers, who allegedly disguised themselves in military uniforms, invaded the area during examination hours and disrupted academic activities.
Among those killed in the attack was the vice principal of the school, while several students were reportedly targeted for abduction before security forces intervened.
The Kogi State Government disclosed that the gunmen had already rounded up students and were marching them into the bush when military personnel, local vigilantes and other security operatives swooped on the scene and engaged the attackers.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the government described the incident as a terrorist attack and commended security forces for preventing what could have become another mass school abduction.
“The bandits 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 said.
“Owing to the superior firepower, professionalism and courage of the security agents, all the students were successfully rescued unharmed and returned to safety.”
The government, however, expressed grief over the killing of three members of the community during the attack.
“The unfortunate attack led to the death of three members of the community. Government extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the people of Iluke Community and the entire Bunu District over this painful loss,” Fanwo stated.
According to the state government, one of the attackers was neutralised during the operation, while several others escaped with serious gunshot injuries.
Security agencies have since launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects.
“Security forces neutralised one of the bandits, while several others escaped with severe gunshot injuries. Security agencies are currently on the trail of the fleeing criminals and are intensifying efforts to ensure that all those connected with the attack are apprehended and brought to justice,” the statement added.
The government praised the military, local vigilantes, hunters and other security personnel involved in the rescue operation, describing their actions as heroic and instrumental in saving innocent lives.
It noted that their swift intervention prevented what could have been a devastating mass kidnapping of students sitting for a crucial national examination.
Fanwo said the state government is closely monitoring developments in the affected community and is working with security agencies to strengthen security around vulnerable areas.
He disclosed that additional security measures would be announced in the coming days as part of efforts to prevent future attacks.
While urging residents to remain calm, the government called on members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible intelligence that could aid ongoing operations.
“Kogi State will not submit to terror. Criminal elements seeking to undermine the peace and security of our state will continue to meet a determined, coordinated and uncompromising response from security agencies and the government,” Fanwo declared.
The attack adds to growing concerns over increasing assaults on schools and communities across parts of the country, even as authorities insist that security forces remain committed to protecting lives and preventing criminal groups from gaining a foothold in Kogi State.
Reacting to the latest incident, former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security, warning that escalating terrorist and bandit attacks on schools are threatening to cripple Nigeria’s education system and derail national development.
In a statement issued by the Atiku Media Office on Wednesday, the former vice president expressed deep concern that criminal groups appear to be shifting focus from merely taking lives to systematically targeting educational institutions.
According to him, the pattern of attacks on schools across the country suggests a deliberate attempt to undermine learning and create long-term social and economic instability.
“The latest attack on a school in Kogi State is a direct threat to education and a colossal national embarrassment that demands urgent and drastic action,” Atiku said.
The former vice president recalled that less than a month ago, scores of students were reportedly abducted in separate attacks in Oyo and Borno states, while a school principal was allegedly beheaded in one of the incidents.
He warned that continued assaults on schools could have devastating consequences for the nation’s future.
“Learning can only take place in a safe environment and terrorist attacks on schools are increasingly making our schools dangerous places,” he stated.
“Worse still, the anxiety and trauma that follow terrorist attacks on schools will inevitably make the school environment unsafe for both students and teachers.”
Calling for extraordinary measures to confront the security crisis, Atiku urged the Federal Government to empower military commanders with greater operational freedom.
“It is high time the Federal Government declared a state of emergency to empower commanders with more freedom to act decisively and proactively against these monsters in the country,” he said.
The ADC presidential hopeful, however, clarified that his proposal was not a call for the suspension of elected state officials.
“I am not in any way calling for the removal of elected officials, but rather advocating for commanders to have a freer hand to protect their battlefield decisions from political interference,” he added.
Atiku further argued that Nigeria’s worsening security situation now requires unconventional solutions, including the establishment of a national guard made up of retired military veterans to support the armed forces and police.
“Our military and police are clearly overstretched and under-manned,” he said, adding that a reserve force of experienced veterans could strengthen ongoing security operations across the country.
The former vice president also called for enhanced intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
“Our communities have a great role to play in information sharing and eternal vigilance,” he said.
Warning against complacency, Atiku stressed that an attack on any school anywhere in the country should be viewed as a threat to the entire education system.
“Under no circumstances should we allow terrorists or bandits to destroy our way of life and stop our children from going to school,” he declared.
“A terrorist attack on one school is a threat to schools elsewhere across the country because of its domino effect.”
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has assured residents that schools across the state remain under constant security surveillance, declaring that its School Protection Squad is fully operational and on high alert to protect students, teachers and educational facilities from security threats.
The assurance comes amid growing concerns over attacks on schools and abductions of students in parts of the country, incidents that have heightened anxiety among parents, educators and community leaders.
In a statement posted on X, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the School Protection Squad remains active and vigilant in carrying out its mandate of safeguarding learning environments across the state.
“The Ogun State Police Command’s School Protection Squad is active, vigilant, and fully operational, remaining steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of students, teachers, and educational institutions across the state,” Babaseyi stated.
The declaration signals the command’s determination to prevent any security breaches within schools and reassure parents that proactive measures are being taken to protect pupils and staff.
The School Protection Squad is part of broader efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen security around educational institutions, particularly in the wake of repeated attacks on schools by bandits and other criminal elements in several parts of the country.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that attacks on schools not only endanger lives but also threaten access to education, as fear and uncertainty force many parents to withdraw their children from school.
Against this backdrop, the Ogun State Police Command said it remains committed to maintaining a safe and conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning, while urging residents to remain security conscious and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
The renewed assurance from the police comes at a time when concerns over school safety have intensified nationwide, with security agencies under pressure to prevent educational institutions from becoming targets for criminal groups.
