Gunmen abduct Kogi school principal, five others during NECO examination

Police rescue one student, launch manhunt for kidnappers

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

The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat.

According to the police, the attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. while students were in the examination hall.

Afusat said a combined team of security operatives immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation after the incident was reported and had begun pursuing the kidnappers.

She disclosed that one of the abducted students had been rescued, adding that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

The police spokesperson also said the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, accompanied by the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser to the Governor, was on his way to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

The command assured residents that security agencies were committed to rescuing the remaining victims safely and restoring normalcy to the area.

It added that a comprehensive statement containing further verified details would be issued as investigations progress.

The latest abduction has heightened concerns over the safety of schools in the North-Central region, particularly during public examinations. Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, is one of the centres hosting candidates for the ongoing NECO examinations in Dekina Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, parents and community leaders have called for increased security around schools in the area to prevent further attacks.