Armed men on Tuesday stormed Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official and four students while the victims were writing the ongoing NECO examination.
The attack, which occurred at about 5:25 p.m., came amid reports that three newly passed-out Nigerian Army personnel were also kidnapped by terrorists in Zamfara State, highlighting the country’s worsening security crisis.
Residents said the gunmen invaded the Olowa community, firing sporadically to disperse people before forcing their way into the school.
A community leader, Sunday Alkali, said the attackers initially retreated after noticing many residents gathered outdoors but later returned and opened fire indiscriminately.
“After the shooting stopped, we discovered the school had been attacked. Examination papers were scattered across classrooms and the compound, while the students and officials had been taken away,” he said.
The abducted victims were identified as the school principal, Mr. Nyada Daniel (also identified by the state government as Elder Daniel Iyanaa), NECO supervisor Mr. Solomon Audu, and four candidates.
Residents noted that the number of victims could have been significantly higher, as only candidates sitting for Literature-in-English were present when the attack occurred.
According to community sources, the kidnappers have already contacted some families, demanding ransom for the victims’ release.
Police rescue one victim, launch operation
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command said tactical teams had been deployed to rescue the abducted victims.
Police spokesperson ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat said Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi visited the scene alongside the Commander of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Kasim Sidi, and the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (retd.), to coordinate rescue efforts.
The command disclosed that one victim had been rescued while operations to free the remaining captives were ongoing.
Police investigations further revealed that the school had previously been shut down by the Kogi State Government because of security concerns arising from its remote location.
Authorities alleged that the abandoned premises were illegally being used as a “special examination centre” for the ongoing NECO examination.
Investigators are also probing allegations that the centre operated as a “miracle centre” where examination malpractice was prevalent.
The police warned that anyone found to have facilitated the illegal operation of the examination centre or engaged in examination malpractice would face prosecution.
Ododo orders multi-agency rescue operation
Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Kogi State Vigilante Service, local hunters and other security outfits had been deployed, while advanced technology was being used to support the operation.
The state government maintained that although preliminary findings indicated the examination centre was operating outside approved security arrangements, every effort would be made to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.
Safe Schools Initiative under renewed scrutiny
The latest attack has renewed concerns over the implementation of Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative.
The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) called for full implementation of the initiative, including improved school security, perimeter fencing, surveillance systems and the deployment of armed security personnel to vulnerable schools.
The Safe Schools Initiative was launched after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction to strengthen security in educational institutions. Despite subsequent funding commitments, school attacks have continued across different parts of the country.
Atiku condemns attack
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the incident as a national tragedy, saying examination halls should be places of hope rather than scenes of violence.
He argued that the attack reflected the government’s failure to secure schools and protect students and education workers, calling for the immediate rescue of all abducted victims and a comprehensive review of security arrangements at schools and examination centres nationwide.
Three newly graduated soldiers abducted in Zamfara
Meanwhile, three newly passed-out Nigerian Army personnel were reportedly abducted by terrorists while travelling through the Anka axis of Zamfara State.
Sources said the soldiers, who had recently completed their passing-out exercise after training in Kaduna, were travelling from Zaria when armed terrorists ambushed their vehicle and abducted them alongside other passengers.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded an initial ransom of N50 million before reducing it to N5 million per captive.
Families of the soldiers said they had informed military authorities but had yet to receive any official update on rescue efforts more than 13 days after the abduction.
However, both the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said they were not aware of the reported incident.
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