Kogi Government Confirms NECO Students Abducted at 'Miracle Centre'

The Kogi State Government has reported that two students of the National Examinations Council who were kidnapped during an attack on Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area were taking their exams at what the government calls a "miracle centre."

The government has started a multi-agency security operation to rescue the other four victims still held captive.

Governor Usman Ododo ordered the operation, which is being led by the State Security Adviser, retired Commander Jerry Omodara. All security and intelligence agencies in the state are taking part in this effort.

The victims still in captivity include the Principal of Government Secondary School, Olowa, Elder Daniel Iyanaa; a NECO official, Solomon Audu; a NECO candidate named Dorcas Sunday; and another female candidate identified only as Dorcas, with no last name confirmed.

The state government shared this information in a statement released on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo.

Initially, five people were kidnapped during the attack, but one person has been rescued. Security agencies are working hard to free the remaining captives.

The government stated that troops from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Lokoja, the 21 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Anyigba, Nigeria Police Force operatives, Department of State Services members, Kogi State Vigilante Service, local hunters, and other security groups have all been deployed for the rescue.

They also mentioned that advanced technology is being used and that the operation is showing promising progress.

In an update about the investigations, the state government noted that the examination centre where the kidnapping occurred was in a remote and vulnerable area. It was reportedly being used as a "miracle" centre for external candidates.

The government explained that the two female candidates involved were not regular students of Government Secondary School, Olowa. The arrangements for the exam did not follow the security guidelines set by the state to protect candidates taking the NECO exams.

"Preliminary findings indicate that the examination centre, located in a remote and vulnerable area, was being used as a ‘miracle’ centre for external candidates. The two female candidates involved were not regular students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, and the examination arrangements did not align with the security framework put in place by the Kogi State Government to protect candidates writing the ongoing NECO examinations across the state."

Despite these findings, the government is determined to rescue all victims.

“The victims are our people, and the government will spare no effort in ensuring their safe rescue and the arrest of those responsible for the crime,” Fanwo stated.

The government will not share more operational details to protect the rescue mission.

“To protect the integrity of the ongoing operation, the Government will not disclose further operational details at this time. Residents of Olowa and surrounding communities are urged to cooperate with security personnel by providing credible information and complying with security directives,” the statement said.

The state will keep working closely with security agencies until all victims are safely back with their families.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that gunmen attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area on Tuesday while candidates were sitting for the NECO exams, abducting the school principal, a NECO staff member, and four students.

The Kogi State Police Command confirmed that one of the kidnapped students has been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the other victims and catch the attackers.