A community leader in Opada-Olowa, Kogi State, Sunday Alkali, has recounted how suspected kidnappers attacked Government Secondary School during an ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examination, abducting school officials and students.
According to a report by Daily Trust published on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the attackers stormed the community while students were writing their NECO examinations. Alkali said residents were initially unsure of the gunmen’s intentions, noting that the attackers appeared surprised to find many people outside before briefly retreating.
“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,” Alkali said.
He said the gunmen’s return triggered panic as they opened fire, forcing students, teachers, and residents to flee in different directions.
After the attackers left, residents discovered examination papers scattered across classrooms, indicating that the examination had been abruptly disrupted. They also found that 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 following the attack, leading to the rescue of one of the abducted students. Efforts to secure the release of the remaining victims and arrest those responsible are ongoing.
Confirming the incident, Kogi State Police Command spokesperson ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat said a combined team of security personnel had been deployed to pursue the kidnappers and rescue those still in captivity. She added that 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 community hunters have intensified patrols and search operations in nearby forests as efforts continue to locate the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
