Bandits Invade School During NECO Exam, Abduct Principal, Official and Four Students

• Suspected bandits have abducted the principal of Government Secondary School, Opada-Olowa, a NECO supervisor, and four students after invading the school in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State during an ongoing NECO examination.

Gunmen have attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member and four students while the ongoing NECO examination was in progress.

The attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, as candidates were writing their examination.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command said, “During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers.

“A combined team of the police and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation and is currently on the trail of the assailants. So far, one of the abducted students has been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators.”

Police spokesperson ASP Salisu Oyiza added that the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser were on their way to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

She also assured the public that “A more detailed press release will be issued as soon as additional verified information becomes available.”

In a separate incident, the police also confirmed that suspected bandits abducted passengers travelling with the corpse of a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway.

According to ASP Oyiza, “The Command confirms that an abduction incident occurred on 9 July 2026 along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway when armed hoodlums attacked a Hummer bus conveying a corpse from Lokoja towards the eastern part of the country and abducted the occupants into the bush.”

She disclosed that police operatives, working alongside the military, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and community policing members, immediately launched rescue operations.

“The abandoned vehicle and casket were recovered, while the casket was evacuated to Elemona Mortuary, Ejule,” she said, adding that “Efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.”