Kiri High School in the Aiyetoro Kiri community of Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State came under siege in the early hours of Wednesday when armed bandits launched a coordinated attack on the school.
According to information confirmed to Chronicle Reporters, members of the Kiri Vigilante Group swiftly mobilised to confront the attackers. Their rapid response led to the rescue of all students initially taken by the gunmen. Community sources affirmed that no learner remains in captivity following the intervention.
However, the successful rescue came at a tragic cost. One vigilante was killed while engaging the bandits, and residents reported that a Hausa man also lost his life during the confrontation.
Wednesday’s attempted abduction adds to the growing wave of mass kidnappings sweeping across Nigeria’s north-central region. More than 400 people — many of them schoolchildren — have been kidnapped since mid-November in states including Niger State, Kebbi State, Kwara State, and Borno State.
On November 17, at least 24 schoolgirls were abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi. Just days later, on November 21, gunmen invaded St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri village, Niger State, seizing more than 300 pupils and staff.
The escalating crisis has drawn sharp condemnation from the United Nations, which urged Nigeria to take “all lawful measures” to halt the attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.
As communities across the region continue to grapple with mounting insecurity, the bravery of the Kiri Vigilante Group underscores both the vulnerability of rural schools and the crucial role of local security networks in the ongoing fight against banditry.