By Ojotule Romanus
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has announced that criminals will have no hiding place in Kogi State under his administration.
The Governor made the declaration while on a condolence visit to Iluke community, in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area. The community had come under violent attack targeted at students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The attack on the community by armed bandits on June 10, disrupted the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the area as well as led to the death of three residents.
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The victims included the Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Iluke, Pastor Anufo Owuse, an elderly man, and a young girl who was struck by stray bullets during the attack. Contrary to some reports, no student was killed during the incident.
The attack triggered panic among students, teachers and residents as the bandits attempted to abduct people, including candidates writing their WASSCE examinations.
However, a swift response by the military, local security operatives, vigilantes and hunters successfully repelled the attackers and rescued those who were being marched into the bush.
Security sources and community leaders indicated that more than 100 persons would have been kidnapped if not for the timely intervention of the security forces, whose superior firepower forced the bandits to abandon their operation and flee.
Addressing residents during an on-the-spot assessment of the incident, Governor Ododo expressed deep sympathy to the families of the victims and assured the people that his administration would not relent in its determination to protect lives and property across the state.
He used to occasion to further reaffirm his administration’s determination to eliminate criminal activities across the state.
The Governor commended the military, other security agencies, local vigilantes and hunters for their bravery and sacrifice, describing their intervention as heroic and decisive in preventing what could have been one of the most devastating mass abductions in the state’s history
