A community leader, Sunday Alkali, has recounted the attack by suspected kidnappers on Government Secondary School, Opada-Olowa, in Kogi State during the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, saying the gunmen initially retreated before returning to carry out the assault.
According to a report by Daily Trust, the incident occurred on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and resulted in the abduction of several people, including school officials and students.
Alkali said the attackers appeared surprised to find many people outside the school when they first arrived.
“The gunmen seemed surprised to see many people outside at that time of the day and initially retreated. They later returned, shooting indiscriminately, forcing everyone to flee for safety,” he said.
Residents said confusion erupted as the attackers opened fire, with teachers, students, and other community members fleeing for safety. After the shooting subsided, examination papers were found scattered across classrooms, while the school principal, the NECO supervisor, and several students were missing.
The abducted victims were identified as the school principal, Mr. Nyada Daniel, NECO supervisor Mr. Solomon Audu, and four students.
Security agencies launched a search-and-rescue operation shortly after the attack, leading to the rescue of one of the abducted students. Efforts to secure the release of the remaining victims are ongoing.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat. She said combined teams of police officers and other security personnel were deployed immediately after the attack to pursue the kidnappers and rescue those still being held.
According to the police, senior security officials were also heading to the affected community to assess the situation and coordinate additional security measures.
Alkali further alleged that some of the affected families had begun receiving ransom demands from the abductors.
Meanwhile, security personnel, local vigilantes, and hunters continue to comb nearby forests in search of the remaining victims as efforts to apprehend those responsible for the attack continue.
