“Gunmen Abduct Kogi School Principal, NECO Official, Four Students During Exam” — Police Rescue One Student, Launch Search For Others

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

The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, saying the attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while candidates were writing their examination.

The command’s spokesperson, Salisu Oyiza, said the attackers invaded the school and abducted the victims during the incident.

“During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers,” she said.

Oyiza disclosed that a combined team of police operatives and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation after the attack.

According to her, one of the abducted students has so far been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and arrest the perpetrators.

She added that the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Naziru Kankarofi, the Commander of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the State Security Adviser were heading to the community for an on-the-spot assessment.

The police said a detailed statement would be issued after more verified information is obtained.

The latest school abduction comes amid growing concerns over kidnapping and violent attacks in parts of Kogi State.

On July 9, suspected kidnappers ambushed a funeral convoy along the Ochadamu-Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area, abducting nine mourners, including two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps who were accompanying the remains of Deputy Corps Commander Augustine Ikwue to his hometown in Benue State.

The abductors later abandoned Ikwue’s corpse near Ejule and reportedly demanded ₦450 million ransom for the release of the kidnapped victims.

Security operatives, including soldiers, vigilantes and local hunters, were deployed for rescue operations after the attack.

The latest incident also comes despite recent efforts by Kogi and Benue states to strengthen security along their shared border through Operation Handshake Patrol, a joint policing initiative aimed at improving intelligence sharing, dismantling criminal hideouts and allowing security operatives to pursue suspects across state boundaries.

The school attack has also renewed concerns over attacks on educational institutions in Kogi State.

The school attack has also renewed concerns over attacks on educational institutions in Kogi State.

On June 10, suspected terrorists attacked Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, killing three people, including the school’s vice principal and a six-year-old child, in what the state government described as a failed attempt to abduct students.

The Kogi State Government later announced that security forces had killed the alleged mastermind of that attack, identified as Kachalla Ibrahim Batijo, during a coordinated operation.

Authorities have in recent weeks announced several security measures, including restrictions on motorcycle operations in parts of Kabba/Bunu, a ban on night travel on some state roads, intensified military operations and intelligence-led raids targeting suspected criminal groups.

Despite these measures, kidnappers have continued to attack rural communities, schools and highways in parts of the state.

Security agencies say operations are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims of the Odo-Ekina school attack and apprehend those responsible.