Gunmen have attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina (Olowa) in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official, and several students while the ongoing NECO Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) was in progress. The attack has heightened concerns over the safety of schools and candidates sitting for public examinations.
The attack reportedly occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday, when heavily armed assailants stormed the community, firing sporadically before invading the examination centre. The abducted victims were identified as the school principal, Mr. Nyada Daniel (also reported as Elder Daniel Iyanaa), the NECO supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu, and four students. Police later confirmed that one of the abducted students had been rescued, while efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining victims.
The Kogi State Government said Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had directed security agencies to launch a coordinated rescue operation led by the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd.), with the participation of security and intelligence agencies. Authorities also disclosed that preliminary investigations are examining allegations that the remote examination centre was being operated as a “special” or “miracle” examination centre for external candidates, adding that anyone found to have facilitated any illegality or examination malpractice would face prosecution.
Reacting to the incident, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) renewed calls for the full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, urging the government to strengthen school security through improved surveillance, adequate deployment of security personnel, and effective emergency response systems to prevent further attacks on educational institutions.
The latest abduction has further intensified concerns over the persistent insecurity affecting schools across Nigeria, with stakeholders warning that repeated attacks on educational institutions threaten students’ right to education, disrupt academic activities, and undermine public confidence in the safety of learning environments.
