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 during the ongoing NECO Exams at Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in the Dekina Local Government Area.
The Kogi school abduction occurred on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, at approximately 5:25 p.m. while students were writing their examination papers. The incident is the latest security breach involving a student kidnapping Nigeria’s security agencies are working to contain.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Command spokesperson ASP Salisu Oyiza outlined the details of the attack.
“During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers.”
ASP Oyiza stated that a joint security team responded to the school immediately after the attack.
NECO Exams Attack: Security agencies’ action
“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.”
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor, have travelled to the community to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the scene.
“A more detailed press release will be issued as soon as additional verified information becomes available,” Oyiza added.
Security Forces Recover Abducted Corpse on Kogi Highway
In a separate incident, the Kogi State Police Command confirmed that armed hoodlums recently hijacked a vehicle transporting a corpse along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway.
The deceased was identified as Augustine Ikwue, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who died in Lokoja. His body was being transported to Otukpo, Benue State, for burial when the attack occurred on 9 July 2026.
Confirming the highway attack, ASP Oyiza said: “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.”
Following the ambush, police officers, military personnel, and members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria mobilised to search the surrounding forest. While the passengers remain missing, security forces recovered the casket.
“The abandoned vehicle and casket were recovered, while the casket was evacuated to Elemona Mortuary, Ejule,” Oyiza said.
Police operations remain ongoing in both areas to locate the missing passengers and the remaining school captives.
