By Augustine Aminu
Armed men on Tuesday attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting four students, the school principal and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc official during an ongoing examination.
The incident occurred at about 5:25 p.m. while candidates were sitting for their NECO examination, according to the Kogi State Police Command.
Security operatives have since launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation to secure the release of the victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said one of the abducted students had been rescued, while efforts were ongoing to free the remaining victims.
She assured the public that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, were intensifying operations to ensure the safe rescue of those still in captivity.
According to the police spokesperson, the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, accompanied by the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd), was en route to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and to coordinate ongoing security operations.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of schools and candidates sitting for public examinations in parts of the country.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist ongoing rescue efforts.
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