Gunmen have abducted the principal of Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, one National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member, and four students during the ongoing NECO examination in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. The Kogi State Police Command confirmed that the attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while candidates were writing their examination.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza, said a combined team of police and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation following the attack. She disclosed that one of the abducted students had been rescued, while efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and apprehend those responsible for the incident.
According to the police spokesperson, the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser, was on the way to the community for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. She added that the command would issue a comprehensive statement as soon as more verified information becomes available.
The latest incident comes days after suspected bandits reportedly attacked a vehicle conveying the corpse of a Federal Road Safety Corps official, Augustine Ikwue, along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway in Kogi State. The attackers abducted occupants of the vehicle into the bush, while the abandoned vehicle and casket were later recovered by security operatives.
ASP Oyiza said the corpse had since been deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule, adding that police, in collaboration with the military, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, and community policing personnel, had intensified rescue operations. She assured residents that security agencies remained committed to rescuing all victims safely and bringing the perpetrators of both incidents to justice.
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