Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kogi State Government has mobilised a massive multi-agency security operation to secure the safe rescue of four persons abducted from Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area during the ongoing National Examinations Council examinations. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed the operation, which is being coordinated by the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Retd), with the full participation of all security and intelligence agencies operating in the state. The victims are Elder Daniel Iyanaa, Principal of Government Secondary School, Olowa; Mr. Solomon Audu, a NECO official; Miss Dorcas Sunday, a NECO candidate; and another female NECO candidate identified simply as Miss Dorcas, whose surname is yet to be confirmed.
Five persons were initially abducted by the criminals. One victim has since been rescued, while efforts have been intensified to ensure the safe return of the remaining four. Officers and men of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lokoja; 21 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Anyigba; the Nigeria Police Force; the Department of State Services; the Kogi State Vigilante Service; local hunters and other security outfits have all been deployed to the area. Advanced technology is also being deployed to support the operation, and encouraging progress is being recorded, according to a statement issued by the Kogi State Government on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
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. The Kogi State Government, however, stresses that this does not diminish its responsibility to protect every resident and every Nigerian within its borders. "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," the statement read.
To protect the integrity of the ongoing operation, the government said it will not disclose further operational details at this time. Residents of Olowa and surrounding communities have been urged to cooperate with security personnel by providing credible information and complying with security directives. The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and will continue to work closely with security agencies until the victims are safely reunited with their families. The abduction occurred during the ongoing NECO examinations, which have been disrupted in parts of the state as security agencies intensify efforts to rescue the victims and restore normalcy.
The attack on Government Secondary School, Olowa, is the latest in a series of abductions targeting educational institutions in Kogi State. In June 2026, armed bandits disguised in military uniforms invaded Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area during a WAEC examination, killing the vice principal and attempting a mass abduction of students. The recurring nature of such attacks has prompted calls from civil society organisations and opposition figures for urgent government action to secure schools and protect students. The Kogi State Government has assured the public that it remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and will continue to work closely with security agencies until the victims are safely reunited with their families.
The deployment of advanced technology and the coordination of multiple security agencies reflect the government's determination to secure the release of the abducted victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. As the operation continues, residents of Olowa and surrounding communities have been urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with security personnel. The Kogi State Government has also called on the public to provide credible information to support the rescue efforts, assuring that all information will be treated with utmost confidentiality. The safe return of the abducted principal, NECO official, and students remains the government's top priority as security forces intensify their efforts in the Dekina axis.
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