The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed a daring attack by armed men on Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area, resulting in the abduction of several individuals during an ongoing examination.
The attack occurred on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at approximately 5:25 p.m. while students were sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) papers.
Security forces launch search-and-rescue operation
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza, those taken by the armed assailants include:
The school principal
Four students
One NECO ad hoc staff member
A joint security team—comprising the police and other sister agencies—swiftly initiated a search-and-rescue mission.
“So far, one of the abducted students has been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators,” ASP Oyiza stated.
High-ranking security officials, including Kogi State Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi, the local Brigade Commander, and the State Security Adviser, have travelled to the school for an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation.
Bandits target funeral convoy in separate incident
In a separate and highly unusual development, the Kogi State Police Command also confirmed that armed hoodlums recently intercepted a funeral convoy and made off with a casket containing a corpse.
The deceased was identified as Augustine Ikwue, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who had passed away in Lokoja. His family and colleagues were conveying his remains to Otukpo, Benue State, for burial when they were ambushed on July 9, 2026, along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway.
The armed gang stopped the vehicle and forced the occupants into the surrounding bush.
Following emergency mobilisation by police operatives, the military, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, and local community policing members, the abandoned vehicle and casket were successfully recovered. The corpse has since been deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule, while security forces continue to hunt for the attackers.
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