United for Safety: Security synergy secures release of kidnapped principal, students and NECO official.

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has commended security agencies for their prompt response that led to the successful rescue of a school principal, two students and a National Examinations Council (NECO) official abducted from Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Speaking on Friday while receiving the rescued victims at the Government House in Lokoja, the governor praised the Commissioner of Police, Bello Nazir Kankarfi; the Commander of the 12 Mechanized Brigade; the Commander of the Nigerian Navy; the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS); the Head of the Kogi State Vigilante Service; and local hunters for their professionalism, coordination and bravery during the rescue operation. He said the successful mission reflected effective collaboration among security agencies and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
Governor Ododo stressed that the incident would not lessen the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of residents, particularly students writing examinations. He confirmed that all four victims were rescued unharmed and pledged continued collaboration with security agencies, school authorities and communities to strengthen security around schools. The rescued victims are Elder Daniel Iyanaa, Principal of Government Secondary School, Olowa; Mr. Solomon Audu, a NECO ad-hoc official; Miss Dorcas Sunday, a NECO candidate; and another female candidate identified simply as Miss Dorcas.
Commissioner of Police Bello Nazir Kankarfi disclosed that the operation was coordinated by the State Security Adviser, retired Commander Jerry Omodara, and involved personnel from the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lokoja; the 21 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Anyigba; the Nigeria Police Force; the DSS; the Kogi State Vigilante Service; local hunters and other security outfits. He described the rescue as a product of effective synergy among all participating agencies and reiterated their resolve to deny criminals any safe haven in the state.
The police commissioner added that Governor Ododo has directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the abduction to serve as a deterrent. He also revealed that preliminary findings indicated the examination centre was located in a remote and vulnerable area and was allegedly being used as a “miracle centre” for external candidates. According to him, the two female candidates involved were not regular students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, and the examination arrangements did not conform to the security framework established by the Kogi State Government for NECO examinations. The four victims were kidnapped during the ongoing NECO examinations, while heads of security agencies in the state attended the reception at the Government House.