Bandits invade Kogi school during NECO exam, abduct principal, supervisor and students

Bandits have invaded Government Secondary School (GSS) Opada-Olowa in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting four students, the school principal and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member while students were sitting for their examinations.

The attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on July 14, 2026 throwing the school into panic as the armed assailants stormed the premises during the ongoing examination.

Following the incident, a combined security forces  launched a search-and-rescue operation and has begun trailing the kidnappers.

Security sources confirmed that one of the abducted students has so far been rescued, while efforts have been intensified to secure the release of the remaining victims.

The joint security team has commenced extensive bush-combing operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance across the area to locate the kidnappers’ hideout and ensure the safe rescue of those still in captivity. 

A community leader, Sunday Alkali, said residents were relaxing under trees when the gunmen suddenly appeared.

“The gunmen seemed surprised to see many people outside at that time of the day and initially retreated. They later returned, shooting indiscriminately, forcing everyone to flee for safety,” he said.

According to residents, it was only after the gunfire subsided that they discovered the school had been attacked.

“We initially did not know what the gunmen were after. After the shooting stopped, some of us went to the school and found examination papers scattered across classrooms and the school premises. There were no students or school officials in sight,” another resident said.

The victims were later identified as the school principal, Mr. Nyada Daniel; the NECO supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu; and four students.

Residents noted that the number of abducted students could have been higher but for the fact that only a limited number of candidates were writing Literature in English at the time, unlike core subjects such as English Language and Mathematics, which attract larger attendance.

The kidnappers were also said to have contacted some relatives of the victims on Tuesday evening, demanding ransom for their release.

“At least four families have received calls from the abductors demanding huge sums of money for the victims’ freedom,” Alkali alleged.

“As I speak with you, soldiers, policemen, vigilantes and hunters are combing the surrounding forests in search of the kidnappers,” a resident, who requested anonymity, said.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command said the attackers abducted the school principal, a NECO ad hoc staff member and four students while the examination was in progress.

The spokesperson for the command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said a combined team of security agencies immediately launched a rescue operation.

“A combined team of the Police and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation and is currently on the trail of the assailants.“

“So far, one of the abducted students has been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators.“

“The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor are currently en route to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment,” she said.

Afusat added that the command would issue a more detailed statement as additional verified information becomes available.