Blessing Bello, Reporting
FOUR students, their school principal, and a National Examination Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member have been rescued after being abducted during an attack on a school in Odo-Ekina, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The six victims were seized on Tuesday when gunmen stormed the school, sparking a major security operation that culminated in their release on Thursday evening, according to the Kogi State Government.
The rescue came hours after Governor Usman Ododo inspected newly acquired Armoured Personnel Carriers and assured journalists that every effort was being made to secure the victims’ freedom.
‘Sustained Pressure Forced Criminals To Flee’
In a statement issued on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed that all six abducted persons had been recovered safely.
“The sustained pressure on the kidnappers and the saturation of the forest by heavily armed security personnel forced the criminals to abandon the victims and flee,” Mr Fanwo said.
“Security operatives remain in the forest, and the operation is still ongoing. We are determined to ensure that none of the criminals escapes justice. Our resolve is clear: anyone who chooses the path of crime in Kogi State will face the full weight of the law.”
He added: “We can confirm that the school principal, the NECO official, and the two students have all been rescued safely. They are hale and hearty and are currently with security agencies for debriefing and necessary medical checks.”
The commissioner did not specify why only two of the four students were mentioned in his update, though the government had earlier stated that four students were among the abducted.
Governor Ordered Immediate Response
According to Mr Fanwo, Governor Ododo had immediately after the incident directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to coordinate the rescue operation.
The government praised the professionalism of security personnel involved, including officers from the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and local security operatives.
The commissioner described the swift response as “another testament to the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in the fight against insecurity.”
Government thanks President Tinubu
The Kogi State Government also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support during the crisis.
“The President directed the heads of the security agencies to give Kogi every necessary support to rescue the victims,” Mr Fanwo said.
“Today, that support has yielded the desired result. We are deeply grateful to Mr President for standing firmly with Kogi State in our determination to protect lives and property.”
