Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kogi State Police Command has launched an investigation into an alleged illegal National Examinations Council (NECO) examination centre operating from an abandoned public school, following the dramatic rescue of four people abducted by gunmen who attacked the facility during an ongoing exam. The police confirmed the rescue of all four victims on Friday, July 17, 2026, after a coordinated multi-agency security operation that involved the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), local vigilantes, and hunters. The victims were identified as the school principal, Elder Daniel Iyanda; a NECO official, Mr. Solomon Peter; and two female candidates, both named Miss Dorcas. The abduction, which occurred on Tuesday, July 14, had initially seen five people taken, with one victim rescued earlier.
The operation that led to the rescue was launched immediately after the attack. The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, visited the scene alongside the Commander of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, and the State Security Adviser to coordinate the effort. Tactical teams and intelligence assets were deployed, with joint security operatives conducting intensive bush-combing operations across the forests and surrounding communities. The sustained pressure mounted on the kidnappers forced them to abandon the victims, who were rescued at about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 16. All victims were rescued alive and are receiving necessary care and support.
While the rescue was a major success, the investigation has revealed disturbing details about the examination centre itself. The police disclosed that the facility, the Government Secondary School in Olowa Agbajo, had been shut down earlier by the Kogi State Government due to its isolated location and security concerns. However, the abandoned premises were allegedly being used illegally as a "special examination centre" for the ongoing NECO examination. Investigators are probing allegations that some individuals facilitated the use of the abandoned school despite its closure, and that the classroom used for the examination had become notorious for examination malpractice. The police described the centre as a "miracle centre" and warned that anyone found to have played a role in the illegal operation of the facility or in examination malpractice would face prosecution.
The Kogi State Government, which had earlier described the centre as a "miracle centre" for external candidates, said the two female candidates involved were not regular students of the school. However, NECO has strongly denied these allegations. In a statement released on Friday, the examination body defended the school's integrity, stating that it has consistently presented candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination since 2000 and that the 28 candidates registered for the 2026 SSCE were bona fide students. The council also clarified that the school's principal is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service, and the kidnapped external supervisor is a Grade Level 12 officer. NECO further revealed that its Kogi State Coordinator had written to security agencies before the commencement of the 2026 SSCE to request enhanced security, following an earlier attack on another school in the state.
Despite the conflicting accounts, the police investigation is ongoing, with the commissioner assuring that anyone found culpable, irrespective of status, would be arrested and prosecuted. The police have also warned that public examinations should only be conducted in approved and secure centres, stressing that any arrangement that exposes candidates or officials to danger will not be tolerated. The operation to track down the kidnappers is also continuing. The successful rescue and the subsequent investigation highlight the complex security challenges facing Nigeria's education sector, where the desperation for examination success has led to the creation of illegal and dangerous centres, exposing students and officials to grave risks.
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