Armed men suspected to be bandits on Tuesday invaded Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting four students, the school principal and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member while candidates were sitting for the ongoing NECO examination.
The attack reportedly occurred at about 5:25 pm as students were writing their examination papers, throwing the school into panic.
Following the incident, security operatives comprising the police and other agencies launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation to locate the kidnappers and secure the release of the victims.
The spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, confirmed the attack, revealing that one of the abducted students had already been rescued during the operation.
She said efforts had been intensified to rescue the remaining victims unharmed and ensure those responsible for the attack were arrested and prosecuted.
According to Afusat, the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, had mobilised to the affected community alongside the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser to the Governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd), for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
She added that security agencies remained fully committed to rescuing the remaining abductees and restoring normalcy to the area.
The police spokesperson noted that the Command had commenced a coordinated rescue operation immediately after the attack.
She also assured residents that a comprehensive statement would be issued as more verified information becomes available from the ongoing operation.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on schools across Nigeria, where students, teachers and other education workers have continued to face threats from armed criminal groups despite repeated government assurances on improving security around educational institutions.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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