- Exam hall under siege as search-and-rescue operation commences
Suspected bandits have reportedly invaded Government Secondary School, Opada-Olowa in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) supervisor, and four students.
Reports indicated that the brazen afternoon attack, which disrupted ongoing examinations and threw the rural community into a state of panic, took place at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday while students were quietly seated for their NECO papers.
Eyewitness accounts by the terrified local residents said the heavily armed assailants stormed the community suddenly and started shooting sporadically into the air to intimidate the locals and clear the streets before marching directly into the school premises.
In the ensuing chaos, the gunmen rounded up their targeted victims, the principal, the examination supervisor, and four students, before fleeing the scene into the surrounding bushes.
According to available information, following the incident, state authorities, including the Kogi State Police Command, immediately launched joint security and search-and-rescue operations and by Wednesday, the Police confirmed that one of the abducted students had been successfully rescued.
While giving an account of the unfortunate incident, a community leader, Sunday Alkali, noted that residents were relaxing under trees when the gunmen suddenly appeared, saying: “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.”
Also, some of the community members told reporters that it was only after the gunfire subsided that they discovered the school had been attacked.
One of them, still reeling in shock and unwilling to give his name, said: “We initially did not know what the gunmen were after. After the shooting stopped, some of us went to the school and found examination papers scattered across classrooms and the school premises. There were no students or school officials in sight.”
Reports said when things became calmer, it was discovered that the abducted individuals were the school principal, Mr. Nyada Daniel; the NECO supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu; and four students, who were yet to be identified.
It was further gathered from the residents that the number of abductees could have been more but for the limited number of candidates who were writing Literature in English at the time, unlike core subjects such as English Language and Mathematics, which usually attract higher students’ turnout.
Meanwhile, emerging reports indicated that the kidnappers had made contact with some relatives of the victims on Tuesday evening, demanding ransom for their release and the Community leader, Alkali claimed that: “At least four families have received calls from the abductors demanding huge sums of money for the victims’ freedom.”
A competent security source, who preferred anonymity, said following the incident, soldiers, police operatives, local vigilantes and hunters were mobilised to the area to track the abductors and rescue the victims, adding: “As I speak with you, soldiers, policemen, vigilantes and hunters are combing the surrounding forests in search of the kidnappers”.
Reacting to the unfortunate development, the Kogi State Police Command confirmed the school principal, a NECO ad hoc staff member and four students were ferried away from the school while the examination was in progress.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, who gave further insight, said, “A combined team of the Police and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation and is currently on the trail of the assailants”, adding: “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.”
The Command Spokesperson also stated that: “The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor are currently en route to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.”
Afusat said going forward, the Command would issue a more detailed statement as additional verified information becomes available on the kidnapping incident.
However, while linking the latest attack to the worsening security situation in the area, some residents recalled that a farmer was killed on his farm a few weeks ago and the incident reportedly prompted the community to ask herders to leave the area amid rising tensions.
