Gunmen have abducted the principal of Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, a National Examinations Council ad hoc official and four students during the ongoing NECO examination in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed that the attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while candidates were writing the examination.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza.
According to the statement, the attackers invaded the school and whisked away the principal, a NECO ad hoc staff member and four students.
“During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers,” Oyiza said.
She added that a joint team of police operatives and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation.
“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 stated.
The police spokesperson disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser, was heading to the scene to carry out an on-the-spot assessment.
She added that the command would provide a more detailed update as soon as additional verified information becomes available.
Meanwhile, the police also confirmed a separate incident involving the abduction of passengers travelling with the corpse of a Federal Road Safety Corps official, Augustine Ikwue.
According to the command, the incident occurred on July 9 along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway while the deceased’s body was being conveyed from Lokoja to Otukpo, Benue State, for burial.
Oyiza said armed men attacked the vehicle, abducted the occupants and fled into the bush.
“The Command confirms that an abduction incident occurred on July 9, 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 noted that police operatives, working with the military, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and Community Policing members, immediately launched bush-combing and rescue operations.
According to her, the abandoned vehicle and casket were recovered, while the corpse was deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule.
She added that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
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