By Kolawole Omotola Olaide
Security agencies have intensified efforts to rescue several people abducted during an attack on Government Secondary School, Opada-Olowa, in Kogi State, where candidates were sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, threw the community into panic as armed men stormed the area, forcing students, teachers and residents to run for safety.
A community leader, Sunday Alkali, said the attackers initially withdrew after arriving in the community but later returned with more weapons and began shooting, creating confusion around the examination centre.
Following the incident, authorities confirmed that the school’s principal, a NECO supervisor and four students were taken away by the gunmen. One of the abducted students has since been rescued, while efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining victims.
The Kogi State Police Command said police officers, supported by other security agencies, were deployed immediately after the attack. Search operations are ongoing across surrounding areas as security personnel work to track down the abductors.
Residents have expressed concern over the safety of students and teachers, calling for stronger security around schools, especially during public examinations. Local vigilantes and hunters have also joined the search efforts in nearby forests.
There have also been reports that some families of the victims have allegedly received ransom demands, although security authorities have continued to urge the public to remain calm while rescue operations continue.
The incident has renewed concerns about insecurity in parts of the country and the need for improved protection of schools and other public institutions.
