No Ransom, No Retreat: Ododo Orders Fresh Manhunt After Rescue Of Abducted NECO Candidates

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has declared that the successful rescue of four victims abducted from Government Secondary School, Olowa Agbajo, in Dekina Local Government Area will not bring security operations to an end, insisting that those responsible for the attack must be tracked down and prosecuted.

Speaking on Friday in Lokoja while receiving the rescued victims, the governor said security agencies had been directed to sustain the manhunt until every member of the kidnapping gang is arrested.

The four victims were freed through a coordinated operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies before being reunited with their families.

"We are grateful to God that all the victims were rescued alive, but the operation is not over. Those responsible for this heinous crime must be arrested and made to face the full weight of the law," Ododo said.

The governor reaffirmed his administration's policy of refusing to negotiate with kidnappers or pay ransom, arguing that giving in to criminal demands only encourages further acts of violence.

"There is no room for ransom or negotiation with criminals in Kogi State. Our approach remains to strengthen security operations, protect lives and ensure those who commit crimes are apprehended and prosecuted," he stated.

Ododo also addressed the controversy surrounding the use of the abandoned Government Secondary School, Olowa Agbajo, as a centre for the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, saying the state government would await the outcome of the police investigation before taking any action.

According to him, although preliminary reports have raised concerns about how the abandoned facility came to be used as an examination centre, it is important to allow investigators to establish the facts before the government reaches any conclusions.

"The police are already investigating the circumstances that led to the use of the facility. We will wait for the outcome of that investigation before taking appropriate decisions," he said.

The governor also suggested that the kidnappers may have received assistance from within the local community, stressing that criminal gangs rarely operate without internal support.

"We cannot rule out local collaboration. Criminals do not operate in isolation. Anyone found to have assisted them in whatever form will equally face the law," Ododo said.

He commended the Kogi State Police Command, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilantes and hunters for their coordinated efforts, which led to the safe rescue of the victims without any loss of life.

Ododo assured residents that his administration would continue investing in security infrastructure and supporting law enforcement agencies to ensure that criminals have no safe haven anywhere in Kogi State.

He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies, describing community cooperation as essential to the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.