Armed bandits on motorcycles invaded Iluke community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Wednesday but were repelled by security operatives following a coordinated response that prevented what authorities described as a planned attack on a secondary school and surrounding residents.

The incident was disclosed in a statement issued by the Kogi State Police Command through its spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, on June 10, 2026.

According to the statement, the Command received a distress report at about 10:00 am indicating that a large group of heavily armed bandits riding about 40 motorcycles had invaded the area around Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu.

The police said the attackers were suspected to have targeted students and other members of the community for possible abduction.

Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer of Kabba ‘A’ Division mobilised personnel from the division alongside operatives of the Police Mobile Force, tactical teams, military personnel and local vigilante groups already operating in the area.

The combined security team engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat into nearby bushes.

“The combined security operatives engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, forcing the criminals to flee into the surrounding bush,” the statement said.

The Command stated that preliminary investigations had not established any successful mass abduction of students or residents during the attack.

“Preliminary findings indicate that there is presently no conclusive evidence of a successful mass abduction of students or other residents,” the police added.

The Command, however, confirmed that three persons lost their lives during the incident. The victims were identified as Mr. Ganiyu Anifowose, Vice Principal of UBE Secondary/Primary School, Iluke, Mr. Sunday Jacob Alhassan 70, and six year-old Sunday Ayele.

The police expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured them that efforts were ongoing to apprehend those responsible.

During the exchange of gunfire, one suspected bandit was killed, while a security operative attached to the joint team sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving medical treatment.

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State has directed sustained bush-combing operations and confidence-building patrols across the affected communities.

The police said joint security teams have continued operations in the area to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Residents were urged to remain calm and continue providing credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a woman identified simply as Joy for allegedly abducting two infants to replace her deceased twin babies ahead of a planned child dedication ceremony.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, revealed the incident in a video shared on Facebook.

He described the incident as one of the most disturbing child abduction cases handled by the command, adding that the suspect allegedly abducted a four-month-old baby after posing as a customer at a groundnut-selling point.

He said the suspect allegedly took advantage of a moment of distraction, deceived a 14-year-old caregiver, and fled with the child.

According to him, investigations further revealed that Joy had allegedly abducted another infant weeks earlier using a similar method. He added that she was said to have befriended an 18-year-old mother under the pretext of helping her secure a househelp before making away with the baby during an outing.

He said that during interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed that she resorted to stealing the children following the death of her biological twins, whom she claimed died at six weeks old while she was away from home.

“Fearing the reaction of relatives and invited guests, she allegedly decided to abduct a boy and a girl to replace the deceased children,” the statement said.

Edafe said the suspect admitted abducting the first child about three weeks earlier and stealing the second infant a day before the scheduled dedication service, adding that the two children were allegedly presented and dedicated before her arrest.

There was pandemonium in Iluke community of Bunu District of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Wednesday when bandits struck and killed a vice principal of a school alongside two others and kidnapped three students.

The attack, which was said to have taken place in the early hours of Wednesday, threw the community into mourning and heightened concerns over security in the area.

According to report, students who were scheduled to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, English Language paper on Wednesday were taken away during the incident.

Reacting to the development, the Kogi State Government said security operatives foiled an attempted mass abduction of students during the attack.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the attackers disguised themselves in military uniforms to gain access to the community.

According to the government, three community members lost their lives in the attack, while security personnel successfully rescued students who were allegedly being taken away by the assailants.

“The unfortunate attack led to the death of three members of the community. The 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,” the statement said.