The Kogi State Government has launched a large-scale security operation to rescue a school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official and two female examination candidates abducted during the ongoing NECO examinations at Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo ordered the operation shortly after receiving reports of the attack, directing all security agencies in the state to work together to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those behind the incident.
The operation is being coordinated by the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (retd.), with the participation of the military, police, intelligence agencies and local security groups.
The state government disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo.
According to the statement, the victims include the Principal of Government Secondary School, Olowa, Elder Daniel Iyanaa; a NECO official, Mr. Solomon Audu; a female NECO candidate identified as Miss Dorcas Sunday; and another female candidate also identified simply as Miss Dorcas.
The government explained that five people were initially kidnapped during the attack, but one of the victims had already regained freedom following the swift response of security operatives.
It added that efforts had been intensified to rescue the remaining four victims safely.
Fanwo said Governor Ododo had directed that no effort should be spared in ensuring the successful conclusion of the operation.
According to him, personnel from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Lokoja, the 21 Battalion in Anyigba, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Kogi State Vigilante Service, local hunters and other security outfits have been mobilised for the rescue mission.
He disclosed that advanced surveillance technology and intelligence-gathering tools are also being deployed to track the kidnappers and locate the victims.
The commissioner said security agencies were already making encouraging progress, although he did not provide operational details for security reasons.
“The victims are our people, and the Government will spare no effort in ensuring their safe rescue and the arrest of those responsible for the crime,” the statement said.
The government also revealed preliminary findings from its investigation into the incident.
According to the statement, the examination centre where the abduction occurred is located in a remote area and was allegedly being used as a “miracle centre” for external examination candidates.
A miracle centre is a term commonly used in Nigeria to describe illegal examination centres where candidates are assisted to cheat or obtain examination answers through fraudulent means.
The government said its initial findings showed that the two abducted female candidates were not regular students of Government Secondary School, Olowa.
It further stated that the arrangements for conducting the NECO examination at the centre failed to comply with the security framework established by the Kogi State Government for schools participating in the ongoing examinations.
“The examination arrangements did not comply with the security framework put in place by the state to protect candidates writing the ongoing NECO examinations,” the statement added.
Although the government did not directly accuse anyone of wrongdoing, it suggested that security guidelines designed to protect examination centres may have been ignored.
Officials said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the operation of the examination centre would continue after the rescue mission.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the safety of students, teachers and examination officials in parts of the country where criminal groups continue to target schools and travellers.
Over the past decade, several schools in northern Nigeria have come under attack by terrorists and armed bandits, leading to the abduction of hundreds of students and staff.
While Kogi State has generally experienced fewer school attacks than some neighbouring states, cases of kidnapping have increased in recent years, particularly along major highways and in remote communities.
The Ododo administration has repeatedly pledged to strengthen security through closer collaboration with federal security agencies, local vigilantes and community leaders.
The state government has also invested in surveillance equipment, intelligence gathering and rapid-response security operations aimed at preventing criminal activities.
Parents and residents in Dekina Local Government Area have expressed concern over the attack, calling on security agencies to rescue the victims quickly and improve protection around schools, especially during national examinations.
Education stakeholders have also urged examination bodies to ensure that centres used for public examinations meet minimum security standards before candidates are deployed.
They argue that schools located in isolated communities should receive additional protection whenever large-scale examinations are taking place.
The National Examinations Council has not yet issued an official statement on the incident, but education observers say the attack could disrupt the conduct of examinations if stronger security measures are not put in place.
In recent years, both the Federal Government and state governments have introduced measures to improve school security under the Safe Schools Initiative, a programme designed to protect students, teachers and educational institutions from attacks.
The initiative encourages closer cooperation among schools, security agencies and local communities while promoting early warning systems and emergency response plans.
Despite these efforts, insecurity continues to pose a major challenge to education in several parts of Nigeria.
Many schools have been forced to close temporarily following attacks, while some parents remain reluctant to send their children to boarding schools because of safety concerns.
The Kogi State Government assured residents that security agencies would continue the rescue operation until all the remaining victims were safely returned.
It also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could assist ongoing operations.
Governor Ododo reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, saying those responsible for the abduction would be tracked down and brought to justice.
As security personnel continue the search across the affected area, residents are hoping for the safe return of the abducted principal, NECO official and students, while authorities work to strengthen security around examination centres to prevent similar incidents in the future.