Gunmen Invade Kogi School During NECO Exam, Abduct Principal, Students

Gunmen have attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting four students, the school principal and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc official during an ongoing examination.

The attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m on Tuesday while candidates were sitting for their NECO examination, throwing the school into panic and disrupting the exercise.

The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident, describing it as a coordinated attack that prompted an immediate security response.

According to the police, a joint team comprising operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies has launched a search-and-rescue operation to secure the release of the abducted victims and apprehend those responsible.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, disclosed that one of the abducted students has already been rescued.

She said efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining four students, the school principal and the NECO ad hoc staff member still being held by the attackers.

The police also confirmed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, had departed for the affected community alongside the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd.), to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

According to the command, additional security personnel have been deployed to the area to support the rescue operation and strengthen security around the affected community.

Police said further details would be released as investigations progress and more verified information becomes available.

The latest attack adds to growing concerns over the security of schools and examination centres across parts of Nigeria, where students and education workers have increasingly become targets of criminal attacks. Authorities say the ongoing rescue operation remains a top priority as security agencies intensify efforts to bring the victims home safely and arrest those behind the incident.