Gunmen Invade Kogi School During NECO Exam, Abduct Principal, Staff, Four Students

Gunmen on Tuesday attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting four students, the school principal and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member during an ongoing examination.

The attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. while students were writing their NECO examination, according to the Kogi State Police Command.

A combined team of police personnel and other security agencies has since launched a search-and-rescue operation to secure the release of the victims and apprehend the attackers.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, disclosed that one of the abducted students had been rescued, while efforts were ongoing to free the remaining victims.

She added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, accompanied by the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd.), was already on the way to the school for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

According to the police, a more detailed statement will be issued as additional verified information becomes available.

The latest attack has heightened concerns over the security of schools and examination centres, particularly as candidates across the country continue to sit for the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination.