Four persons, including a school principal and a National Examinations Council (NECO) official, have been abducted after suspected kidnappers attacked an examination centre operating at an abandoned Government Secondary School in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The victims have been identified as the school principal, Elder Daniel Iyanaa; a NECO official, Mr. Solomon Audu; and two female candidates, Dorcas Sunday and another candidate identified simply as Dorcas.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said the incident occurred while 10 candidates were sitting for the ongoing NECO examination at the abandoned school.
Following the attack, the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, immediately deployed tactical and operational teams to the area.
The police commissioner also visited the scene alongside the Commander of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lokoja, Brigadier General Kasim Sidi, and the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to assess the situation and coordinate rescue efforts.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the school had earlier been shut down by the Kogi State Government because of its remote location and security concerns. However, the abandoned premises were allegedly being used illegally as a special examination centre for the ongoing NECO examinations.
The command further disclosed that investigations had uncovered allegations that some individuals facilitated the use of the abandoned school despite its closure by the government.
Police investigators are also probing claims that the examination hall had become notorious for examination malpractice. The command described the facility as a “miracle centre” and warned that anyone found to have played a role in the illegal operation of the examination centre or any form of examination malpractice would be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, additional security personnel have been deployed to the area, with combined teams of the police, the Nigerian Army, local vigilantes, hunters and other security stakeholders carrying out intensive bush-combing and intelligence-led operations to rescue the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.
