Gunmen kidnap principal, four students writing NECO exam in Kogi

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a school principal, one NECO ad hoc staff member, and four students who were sitting for the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examination at Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area.

The attack occurred on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at about 5:25 p.m., when gunmen invaded the school premises while students were writing their examination.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza, said, “During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers.

“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.”

She added that the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, Naziru Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Kogi State Governor, were on their way to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

“A more detailed press release will be issued as soon as additional verified information becomes available,” she added.

In a related development, the Command also confirmed an earlier incident involving the abduction of a corpse by suspected bandits.

The corpse was identified as that of a Federal Road Safety Corps official, Augustine Ikwue, who died in Lokoja and was being transported to Otukpo, Benue State, for burial.

ASP Oyiza confirmed the development, noting that the corpse had since been recovered and deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule.

“The Command confirms that an abduction incident occurred on 9 July 2026 along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway when armed hoodlums attacked a Hummer bus conveying a corpse from Lokoja towards the eastern part of the country and abducted the occupants into the bush,” she said.

She explained that upon receiving the report, police operatives, in collaboration with the military, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, and community policing members, swiftly mobilised to the scene and commenced bush-combing and rescue operations.

“The abandoned vehicle and casket were recovered, while the casket was evacuated to Elemona Mortuary, Ejule,” the PPRO added.

“Efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available,” Afusat assured the public.