Armed men on Tuesday invaded Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the school principal, a National Examinations Council ad hoc official and four students who were sitting for the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. while candidates were writing one of the NECO examination papers, throwing the school into panic and forcing the examination to an abrupt halt.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Wednesday, describing it as a targeted abduction.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza, said the gunmen whisked away the principal, the NECO official and four candidates before security operatives arrived at the scene.
She disclosed that a combined team of police officers and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation.
According to her, one of the abducted students has since been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and apprehend the attackers.
“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 said.
Oyiza added that the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Naziru Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the state’s Security Adviser, had proceeded to the school for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
She said a detailed update would be issued as investigations progress and more verified information becomes available.
The latest attack has heightened concerns over the safety of schools and candidates writing public examinations, particularly in communities vulnerable to criminal attacks.
Meanwhile, the police also provided an update on another recent security incident in the state involving the abduction of passengers travelling with the corpse of a Federal Road Safety Corps official.
According to the command, suspected gunmen attacked a Hummer bus conveying the remains of Augustine Ikwue from Lokoja to Otukpo, Benue State, for burial along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway on July 9.
Oyiza said the assailants abducted the occupants after forcing the vehicle to stop.
She, however, disclosed that security operatives, working with the military, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and community policing personnel, recovered the abandoned vehicle and the casket containing the deceased’s body, which has since been deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule.
She added that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted passengers and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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