Kogi Confirms Killing of Notorious Bandit Leader Behind School Attack

The Kogi State Government has confirmed the killing of Kachala Ibrahim Batijo, a notorious bandit leader who masterminded a recent attack on a school in Iluke Bunu, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.

State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, stating that Batijo was among several bandits killed in a coordinated security operation by Nigerian security forces.

The slain leader was linked to the attack on the school in Iluke Bunu, which resulted in the deaths of three people, including a vice principal and a six-year-old child. Fanwo revealed that Batijo had been coordinating plans to abduct students from multiple schools across Kogi State.

According to the commissioner, the state received intelligence about the planned school attacks and shut down schools for more than three weeks as a precautionary measure. Security forces later learned that the bandits were targeting the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination at GSS Iluke.

Fanwo stated that Kogi State invested heavily in high-tech intelligence gathering equipment, which enabled security agencies to monitor the bandit’s activities. Students were moved from the remote school location to the heart of Iluke town for safety.

On June 10th, Batijo and about 100 terrorists on approximately 40 motorcycles attacked Iluke in an attempt to abduct students. The attack was foiled by local security architecture, supported by the military, police, and DSS.

The commissioner confirmed that Batijo and a significant number of terrorists were neutralised during the operation, with over 15 to 20 bodies of terrorists recovered.

Fanwo noted that security forces were confident Batijo had been killed but were subjecting his body to further verification. The body was exhumed from a secret burial site for autopsy and further investigation to fully establish his identity.