Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has ordered a massive multi-agency security operation to rescue four abducted students and a school principal seized by gunmen during the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations at Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
The directive followed the abduction of the victims after armed bandits attacked the school while examination activities were underway.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the rescue mission is being coordinated by the Governor’s Security Adviser, retired Commander Jerry Omodara.
According to Fanwo, the operation involves personnel from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Lokoja; the 21 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Anyigba; the Nigeria Police Force; the Department of State Services (DSS); the Kogi State Vigilante Service; local hunters; and other security outfits operating across the state.
He said advanced technology is also being deployed to support the operation, adding that security agencies have already made encouraging progress in efforts to locate and rescue the victims.
The commissioner identified those abducted as the principal of Government Secondary School, Olowa, Elder Daniel Iyanaa; a NECO official, Mr. Solomon Audu; and two female NECO candidates, Miss Dorcas Sunday and another candidate identified simply as Miss Dorcas, whose surname has yet to be confirmed.
Fanwo disclosed that although five persons were initially abducted during the attack, one victim has since been rescued.
He, however, revealed that preliminary investigations showed the examination centre was located in a remote and vulnerable area and was allegedly being used as a “miracle centre” for external candidates.
He further stated that the two female candidates abducted were not regular students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, adding that the examination arrangements at the centre did not conform to the security framework established by the Kogi State Government to safeguard candidates participating in the ongoing NECO examinations across the state.
Despite those findings, Fanwo stressed that the government remains fully committed to rescuing all victims.
“The victims are our people, and the Government will spare no effort in ensuring their safe rescue and the arrest of those responsible for the crime,” he said.
He noted that further operational details would not be disclosed to avoid compromising the ongoing rescue mission.
The commissioner appealed to residents of Olowa and neighbouring communities to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible intelligence and complying with security directives.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that security agencies would sustain the operation until all the abducted victims are safely reunited with their families.