A joint military and police operation has successfully executed a swift Kogi school kidnap rescue mission to free four abducted people.
Gunmen had stormed an active examination centre in Olowa, within the Dekina Local Government Area, seizing a school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official, and two students.
The raid triggered an immediate, high-stakes deployment into the dense border forests of Kogi State. Faced with an overwhelming saturation of heavily armed troops, the captors abandoned their hostages and fled further into the bush.
State strategy shifts to aggressive forest saturation
The successful extraction highlights a tactical shift by regional authorities, who deployed a combined force of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, and local vigilante units within minutes of the assault.
The rapid mobilisation suggests regional security networks are adapting to the persistent threat of mass abductions targeting educational institutions across northern Nigeria.
According to Kingsley Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, the joint team did not waste a single moment.
“Shortly after the kidnapping incident, the Governor directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to coordinate the rescue operation. The State Security Adviser and the leadership of the 12 Brigade and the 21 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the Police and local security operatives stormed the forest to ensure the victims were rescued.
The operation coincided with an official inspection of new Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) purchased by the state to combat rural banditry.
“Just this evening, while inspecting the Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the Kogi State Government to strengthen the fight against criminality, the Governor assured newsmen that every effort was being made to secure the release of the victims. A few hours later, the victims regained their freedom. The sustained pressure on the kidnappers and the saturation of the forest by heavily armed security personnel forced the criminals to abandon the victims and flee.
Kogi School Kidnap Rescue: The rising toll on Nigerian education
The NECO exam abduction follows a troubling pattern of criminal gangs targeting schools during key national examination periods, leveraging the vulnerability of students for financial or political leverage.
While this specific Kogi security operation prevented a prolonged hostage crisis, analysts warn that the underlying drivers of rural insecurity in the region remain unaddressed.
Officials confirmed that the rescued individuals are undergoing medical evaluation and debriefing, whilst tracking teams remain embedded in the forest.
“We can confirm that the School Principal, the NECO official and the two students have all been rescued safely. They are hale and hearty and are currently with security agencies for debriefing and necessary medical checks.”
Governor Ahmed Ododo expressed gratitude to the federal administration for providing immediate operational clearance and aerial support.
“The President directed the heads of the security agencies to give Kogi every necessary support to rescue the victims. Today, that support has yielded the desired result. We are deeply grateful to Mr President for standing firmly with Kogi State in our determination to protect lives and property.”
Local authorities have vowed to maintain a heightened security posture around educational facilities across the state to deter future incursions.
