The Kogi State Government has announced that security operatives successfully rescued all four individuals abducted during Tuesday's attack on a National Examinations Council (NECO) examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area. The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, stating that the victims regained their freedom after a coordinated rescue operation ordered by Governor Ahmed Ododo.
Coordinated Rescue Operation
According to Mr Fanwo, Governor Ododo directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to coordinate the rescue operation immediately after the kidnapping incident. The operation involved the State Security Adviser, the leadership of the 12 Brigade and the 21 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and local security operatives. They stormed the forest to ensure the victims' rescue.
Mr Fanwo stated that sustained military and security operations forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee. He said, “A few hours later, the victims regained their freedom. The sustained pressure on the kidnappers and the saturation of the forest by heavily armed security personnel forced the criminals to abandon the victims and flee.”
Rescued Victims
The rescued victims include the school principal, Daniel Iyanaa, the NECO official, Solomon Audu, and two female candidates. Mr Fanwo confirmed, “We can confirm that the School Principal, the NECO official and the two students have all been rescued safely. They are hale and hearty and are currently with security agencies for debriefing and necessary medical checks.” Security operatives remain in the forest to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Commendation and Presidential Support
The commissioner commended the Nigerian Army, the State Security Services (SSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes, and other security agencies for their efforts. He also thanked President Bola Tinubu, who directed security chiefs to provide the state with necessary support to rescue the victims.
Background of the Incident
The rescue comes barely a day after gunmen attacked Government Secondary School, Olowa, while candidates were writing the ongoing NECO examination. On 15 July, it was reported that the attackers abducted five people, including the school principal, a NECO ad hoc official, and three candidates. The Kogi State Police Command later stated that one student had been rescued shortly after the attack, leaving four victims in captivity. The state government subsequently announced a multi-agency rescue operation involving the 12 Brigade and 21 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, the SSS, the police, the Kogi State Vigilante Service, and local hunters. Preliminary findings indicated that the examination centre was located in a remote area and was allegedly being used as an unauthorised “miracle centre” for external candidates.
Recent Security Incidents in Kogi State
The school attack was the latest in a string of kidnapping incidents in Kogi State. On 9 July, suspected kidnappers ambushed a funeral convoy along the Ochadamu-Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area, abducting nine mourners, including two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), while conveying the remains of Deputy Corps Commander Augustine Ikwue to Benue State for burial. The kidnappers later abandoned the deceased officer’s corpse and demanded N450 million ransom for the victims.
Earlier, on 10 June, suspected terrorists attacked Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area in what authorities described as an attempt to abduct students. Three people, including the school’s vice principal and a six-year-old child, were killed before security forces repelled the attack. Following that incident, the Kogi government announced that security operatives had killed the alleged mastermind, Kachalla Ibrahim Batijo, during a subsequent operation. Authorities also imposed restrictions on commercial motorcycle operations in parts of Kabba/Bunu, banned night travel on some state roads, and intensified intelligence-led operations targeting kidnappers and bandits.
Ongoing Security Efforts
The state has recorded a series of military successes in recent weeks, including the rescue of kidnapped victims during operations by the 12 Brigade, the interception of a cache of arms allegedly meant for criminal groups, and the recovery of about 1,000 rustled livestock from suspected bandits. Despite these operations, kidnappings have continued in parts of the state, prompting the launch of joint security initiatives, including the recently inaugurated Benue-Kogi Operation Handshake Patrol, designed to improve intelligence sharing and combat cross-border crimes. Security agencies say operations are continuing to dismantle criminal networks operating across Kogi and neighbouring states.
