Kogi NECO Centre Under Police Probe After Abduction of Candidates, Officials

The Kogi State Police Command has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the use of an abandoned secondary school as a venue for the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, following the abduction of four persons at the facility.

The Command on Friday confirmed the successful rescue of the victims, who were kidnapped on July 14 when armed gunmen attacked Government Secondary School, Olowa Agbajo, in Dekina Local Government Area, where candidates were sitting for the examination.

Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, disclosed during a press briefing in Lokoja that the victims were rescued alive on Thursday evening after sustained operations by a joint security team.

The rescued victims were identified as the school principal, Elder Daniel Iyanda a NECO official, Mr Solomon Peter and two female candidates, both identified as Miss Dorcas.

According to the police commissioner, the gunmen invaded the examination centre while 10 special candidates were writing the ongoing NECO examination at the facility.

Kankarofi said he immediately visited the scene alongside the Commander of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Lokoja, Brigadier General Kasim Sidi and the State Security Adviser to the Governor, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), to assess the situation and coordinate the rescue operation.

He said additional tactical teams and intelligence resources were deployed, while personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilantes, hunters and other community stakeholders conducted intensive searches across surrounding forests and communities.

The police commissioner said the sustained pressure placed on the kidnappers eventually forced them to abandon their victims.

“I am pleased to inform you that these concerted efforts yielded the desired result. At about 7:45 p.m on Thursday, July 16, 2026, all four abducted victims were successfully rescued alive through the sustained operational pressure mounted on the criminal elements,” Kankarofi said.

He added that the victims had been handed over to the appropriate authorities and were receiving medical attention and necessary support, stressing that no life was lost during the rescue operation.

However, the police chief disclosed that preliminary investigations had uncovered concerns surrounding the examination venue.

According to him, Government Secondary School, Olowa Agbajo, had previously been shut down by the Kogi State Government because of its isolated location and security challenges, but the abandoned facility was allegedly used as a “special examination centre” for candidates sitting the NECO examination.

Kankarofi said investigators were examining how the facility was approved for use despite the security concerns as well as allegations that some individuals may have facilitated its use.

He also disclosed that the classroom where the examination was conducted was being investigated over claims that it had become associated with examination malpractice.

The commissioner assured Nigerians that anyone found culpable would face prosecution, regardless of their position or status.

He warned that public examinations must only take place in approved and secure locations, stressing that no arrangement should expose candidates, examination officials or members of the public to avoidable risks.

Kankarofi commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, for the swift deployment of operational resources that supported the rescue mission.

He also praised Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his support to security agencies and acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Army, DSS, NSCDC, vigilantes, hunters and other members of the joint security team.

The police commissioner said the operation was still ongoing, with security agencies continuing efforts to identify, track and arrest those responsible for the attack.

He urged examination bodies, school authorities and other stakeholders to cooperate with investigators, while calling on residents to continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in tackling criminal activities across the state.