By The Metro 
Gunmen attacked Iluke community in Bunu District of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing a vice principal and two other residents during an early morning raid on Wednesday.
Residents of the community called for urgent government intervention following the incident, which threw the area into mourning and heightened security concerns.
One of the victims was identified as Mr Gani Anifowose, Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Iluke, who was killed alongside two other residents.
Residents said the attackers operated for hours, causing panic across the community.
According to Vanguard, some community members also alleged that students scheduled to sit 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.
In a statement 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 residents were killed, while security personnel rescued students allegedly being taken away by the assailants.
Fanwo said the attackers disrupted an ongoing WAEC examination and attempted to move students into the bush before security operatives engaged them in a gun battle.
He said all the students were rescued unharmed and returned to safety, while one of the attackers was killed during the operation. Others reportedly escaped with injuries.
The government also expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.