The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member and four students who were sitting the ongoing NECO examination at Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at about 5:25 p.m. when armed attackers invaded the school while the examination was in progress.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza, said the assailants abducted the principal, the NECO official and four candidates.
“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,” she said.
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 said a more detailed statement would be issued as more verified information becomes available.
Meanwhile, the command has also confirmed the abduction of mourners travelling with the corpse of a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official, Augustine Ikwue, along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway.
According to the police, the incident occurred on July 9 when armed hoodlums attacked a Hummer bus conveying Ikwue’s remains from Lokoja to Otukpo, Benue State, for burial and abducted the occupants into the bush.
Oyiza said police operatives, working with the military, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and community policing members, swiftly launched rescue operations.
She disclosed that the abandoned vehicle and the casket were recovered, while the corpse was deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule.
The police spokesperson said efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend those responsible for the attacks.
“We will provide further updates as more information becomes available,” she said.
