Gunmen have attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member, and three students during an ongoing NECO examination.
The attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while candidates were writing their examination, according to the Kogi State Police Command.
Police said the gunmen initially abducted four students, but one of the victims has since been rescued, leaving three students still in captivity alongside the school principal and the NECO official.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said a combined team of police personnel and other security agencies had launched a search-and-rescue operation to secure the release of the remaining victims and apprehend the attackers.
She added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, accompanied by the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd), was on the way to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
The police said investigations are ongoing and assured the public that a more detailed statement would be issued as additional verified information becomes available.