Suspected gunmen abduct four students, school principal, NECO ad hoc staff in Kogi

Gunmen attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi Atate on Tuesday evening and abducted four students, the school principal and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member while candidates were writing their NECO examination.

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, on Wednesday, saying that the incident occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday.

A combined team of security operatives, according to the statement, swiftly launched a search-and-rescue operation after the attack and is currently pursuing the kidnappers to ensure they are brought to face the wrath of the law.

She said, “One of the abducted students has already been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and arrest those responsible for the attack.”

The spokesperson explained that the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser to the Governor, was on his way to the scene to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

Residents have been assured by the command that security agencies are committed to ensuring the safe rescue of the remaining victims and restore normalcy in the area, saying that a comprehensive statement containing further verified details would be issued as the investigation progresses.