The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a school principal, one NECO ad hoc staff member, and four students writing the ongoing National Examinations Council examination at Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at about 5:25 p.m., when the school came under attack while students were writing the examination.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza, said, “During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers.
“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. 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.”
She said the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, Naziru Kankarofi, the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State were on their way to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
“A more detailed press release will be issued as soon as additional verified information becomes available,” she added.
Our correspondent gathered that the corpse was that of a Federal Road Safety Corps official, Augustine Ikwue, who died in Lokoja and was being conveyed to Otukpo, Benue State, for burial.
ASP Oyiza, while responding to an enquiry from our correspondent, confirmed the incident, adding that the corpse had been recovered and deposited at the Elemona Mortuary, Ejule.
“The Command confirms that an abduction incident occurred on 9 July 2026 along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway when armed hoodlums attacked a Hummer bus conveying a corpse from Lokoja towards the eastern part of the country and abducted the occupants into the bush,” she said.
According to her, upon receiving the report, police operatives, in collaboration with the military, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and Community Policing members, swiftly mobilised to the scene and commenced bush-combing and rescue operations.
“The abandoned vehicle and casket were recovered, while the casket was evacuated to Elemona Mortuary, Ejule,” the PPRO added.
