The four persons rescued after being kidnapped during an attack on an examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, have been formally received by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo at the Government House in Lokoja.
A video shared by TVC on Friday captured the moment the governor welcomed the rescued victims, comprising the school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official and two students, shortly after they regained their freedom.
Governor Ododo was accompanied by heads of security agencies operating in the state as he received the victims, who were successfully rescued following an intensive security operation.
The victims were abducted when armed men attacked the examination centre, prompting an immediate response from the Kogi State Government and security agencies.
The state government had earlier confirmed that the rescue operation was conducted through a coordinated effort involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and other security operatives.
According to the government, Governor Ododo ordered the joint security operation immediately after the abduction, directing security agencies to ensure the safe return of the victims and intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The successful rescue was described as the result of sustained pressure mounted on the kidnappers, forcing them to abandon their captives while fleeing from advancing security personnel.
Meanwhile, the National Examinations Council has reacted to reports describing Government Secondary School, Olowa, as a “miracle centre,” firmly rejecting the allegation.
The examination body maintained that the school is a legitimate public secondary institution owned by the Kogi State Government and has been in existence for more than four decades.
NECO explained that the school has consistently participated in the Senior School Certificate Examination since the year 2000, insisting that there was no basis for branding it an illegal examination centre.
The council stated that the institution has remained part of its recognised examination system for over two decades and has continued to present eligible candidates for its examinations in line with established guidelines.
According to NECO, claims questioning the legitimacy of the school are misleading and do not reflect the institution’s history or status within the nation’s educational system.
The council reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of its examinations while ensuring that only duly accredited schools participate in its examination processes.
The latest clarification comes amid public interest generated by the kidnapping incident, which drew national attention after gunmen invaded the examination centre and abducted the principal, a NECO official and two students before they were eventually rescued by security operatives.
