Rescued Kogi School Kidnapping Victims Receiving Care as Police Investigate Illegal Exam Center

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that four individuals rescued from kidnappers on Thursday have been handed over to the appropriate authorities and are currently receiving necessary medical care and support.

The update was provided by the Commissioner of Police, Bello Kankarofi, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Lokoja.

The Abduction and Rescue Operation

The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, when armed bandits attacked the premises of Government Secondary School, Olowa Agbajo, in the Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. The gunmen abducted four individuals: the school principal, Elder Daniel Iyanda; an ad hoc National Examinations Council (NECO) official, Mr. Solomon Peter; and two female candidates, Miss Dorcas Sunday and another student identified only as Miss Dorcas.

Following the attack, a joint security team consisting of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, local vigilantes, and hunters initiated an intensive bush-combing operation across neighboring forests. The coordinated pressure forced the criminal elements to abandon their captives. All four victims were successfully rescued alive and uninjured at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Thursday.

Investigation Into Unlawful Exam Center

Preliminary police findings have revealed that Government Secondary School, Olowa Agbajo, had previously been shut down by the Kogi State Government due to its remote location and associated security vulnerabilities.

Authorities discovered that the abandoned facility was being used unlawfully as a “special examination center” for ten candidates sitting for the ongoing NECO examinations. The police are currently investigating allegations that certain individuals facilitated the illegal use of the shuttered school. Furthermore, investigators are looking into claims that the venue had gained notoriety for examination malpractice.

The command emphasized that public examinations must only be conducted in approved, secure, and officially authorized venues, warning that any arrangements compromising the safety of candidates and officials for personal gain will face full legal consequences.

While the victims have been safely recovered, the police stated that operations are still underway to track down and prosecute the perpetrators behind the abduction.