Gunmen have abducted the principal of Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, one National Examinations Council ad hoc staff member and four students sitting for the ongoing NECO examination in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while candidates were writing their examination.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Salisu Oyiza, said security operatives had launched a rescue operation immediately after the attack.
“During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers,” Oyiza said.
She added, “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 police spokesperson disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, CP Naziru Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser, were on their way to the community to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
“A more detailed press release will be issued as soon as additional verified information becomes available,” she said.
Meanwhile, the command also provided an update on the recent abduction involving a vehicle conveying a corpse along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway.
According to Oyiza, the incident occurred on July 9 when armed hoodlums attacked a Hummer bus transporting the remains of Augustine Ikwue, a Federal Road Safety Corps official, from Lokoja to Otukpo, Benue State, for burial.
“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 police officers, working with the military, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and community policing personnel, swiftly responded by launching bush-combing and rescue operations.
“The abandoned vehicle and casket were recovered, while the casket was evacuated to Elemona Mortuary, Ejule,” Oyiza added.
She assured residents that efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible were ongoing.
“Efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available,” she said.
