Relief in Kogi as abducted NECO candidates, officials regain freedom.

The Kogi State Government has confirmed the rescue of four persons abducted during an attack on an unauthorised examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area, while the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination was ongoing.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Lokoja. He said the victims were rescued after Governor Ahmed Ododo ordered an immediate, coordinated security operation following the incident.
According to Fanwo, the governor directed the State Security Adviser, retired Commander Jerry Omodara, to lead a joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilante groups to secure the victims’ release.
He explained that security personnel combed the forest where the abductors were believed to be hiding, leading to the successful rescue of the victims on Thursday.
Fanwo recalled that while inspecting newly procured Armoured Personnel Carriers, Governor Ododo assured journalists that every effort was being made to secure the release of those abducted.
He said sustained pressure from security operatives and the intensive search of the forest forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee.
The rescued victims include the school principal, a NECO official and two students. Fanwo said they were in good condition and were currently with security agencies for debriefing and medical examination.
He added that security personnel had remained in the forest to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, stressing that anyone involved in criminal activities in Kogi State would face the full weight of the law.
The commissioner commended the Nigerian Army, DSS, Police and local security operatives for their professionalism and bravery, describing the rescue as a result of effective inter-agency collaboration.
He also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for directing security chiefs to support the state during the rescue operation, noting that the President’s intervention contributed significantly to the successful outcome.
Fanwo reaffirmed the Ododo administration’s commitment to strengthening intelligence gathering, improving security logistics and enhancing collaboration among security agencies to eliminate criminal elements from the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victims were abducted at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday when gunmen attacked the unauthorised examination centre while students were writing the NECO examination. Security agencies immediately launched a manhunt for the attackers.