A recent abduction incident in Kogi State has cast a dark shadow over the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
Some gunmen reportedly kidnapped a school principal, a NECO official, and several students from Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of the State.
The distressing event, which occurred on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, while students were sitting for their exams, has drawn widespread condemnation, including a strong reaction from Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi.
According to reports from Channels Television and Kogi State Government, five individuals were initially abducted.
These include Elder Daniel Iyanaa, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Olowa; Mr. Solomon Audu, a NECO official; Miss Dorcas Sunday, a NECO candidate; and another female NECO candidate also identified as Miss
Dorcas.
One of the abducted students has since been rescued, with security agencies
intensifying efforts to secure the safe return of the remaining four.
The Kogi State Government has mobilized a massive multi-agency security operation, directed by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and coordinated by State Security Adviser Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd).
Personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Kogi State Vigilante Service, and local hunters have
been deployed, utilizing advanced technology to track the assailants.
Preliminary investigations by the govt suggest that the examination center was being used as a “miracle center” for external candidates.
Also that the abducted female candidates were not regular students of the school, with the examination arrangements not aligning with the state’s security framework for NECO exams.
Despite these findings, the government affirmed its commitment to protecting all residents and ensuring the safe rescue of the victims.
Reacting to the incident, Peter Obi expressed profound concern, stating that the abduction of innocent children and education officials while students are sitting for national examinations is a stark reminder of the erosion of safety in educational institutions.
Obi emphasized that schools should be symbols of hope, not fear, and called on security agencies to act with urgency, deploying every available resource for the safe and unconditional rescue of all those abducted.
He also urged government at all levels to strengthen security around schools and restore public confidence in the education system, warning against the normalization of such tragedies.
This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Nigeria, particularly in its educational sector, and highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to safeguard students and educators across the nation.
