NECO Candidates, Ad-hoc Staff Rescued After Kidnap in Kogi, Government Explains Operation
By Olusegun HOSEA
The Kogi State Government has explained how security operatives rescued candidates and ad-hoc staff of the National Examinations Council (NECO) who were abducted while travelling to an examination centre, saying coordinated security operations forced the kidnappers to abandon their victims.
Speaking during a national broadcast, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, said the government immediately mobilised security agencies after receiving information about the abduction.
According to him, security operatives blocked the escape routes commonly used by the kidnappers, disrupted their logistics network and intercepted their communications, leaving them with no option but to abandon the victims.
“The points where they usually took their victims through were blocked, cutting off their logistics. We were also able to intercept their communications,” Fanwo said.
He declined to disclose operational details for security reasons but noted that the area was heavily saturated with security personnel.
“There was tremendous pressure on them. The entire area was saturated with security operatives, leaving them with no choice but to abandon the victims because of the intense security operations,” he said.
Fanwo added that although the priority was to rescue the victims alive, security agencies also pursued the kidnappers after securing the victims’ release.
“I will not say much about their fate for now, but I believe they are already paying for their terrible deeds,” he stated.
The commissioner disclosed that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had issued a clear directive that no security operative should return to Lokoja until the kidnapped victims had been rescued.
He also commended the Chairman of Koton Karfe Local Government Area for coordinating the local security architecture during the operation.
Fanwo attributed the successful rescue to the strong collaboration among security agencies in the state, including the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade in Lokoja, the 21 Battalion in Ajaokuta, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local security outfits.
According to him, the governor had inspected newly acquired armoured tactical vehicles only hours before the victims regained their freedom and assured residents that the abductees would be rescued safely.
While commending the swift operation, Fanwo acknowledged that Kogi remains vulnerable to insecurity because it shares boundaries with nearly 10 states, allowing constant cross-border movement by criminal elements.
Responding to reports that the examination venue was a “miracle centre,” the government said its immediate concern during the operation was saving lives rather than investigating the status of the examination centre.
It, however, alleged that the examination centre was located deep inside a forest and was being used to facilitate examination malpractice by taking candidates away from officially approved centres.
The government criticised the school principal for taking students to such a vulnerable location despite prevailing security challenges, describing the decision as irresponsible. It said appropriate administrative action would be taken after the rescue operation.
Officials said the rescued candidates and ad-hoc staff were transported to Lokoja, where they received medical attention and psychological support.
The government also clarified that the abandoned building shown during the interview was no longer an operational school, explaining that it had been replaced by a safer facility. It alleged that the principal deliberately used the abandoned structure for examination malpractice.
STATE’S SECURITY
On the state’s security situation, the government identified Yagba West and Bunu communities as major security flashpoints, adding that forward operating bases and increased military deployments had been established to prevent future attacks.
It disclosed that most kidnapping victims in Yagba West had been reunited with their families and said ongoing collaboration with neighbouring Kwara State had significantly reduced cross-border criminal activities.
The government further highlighted improved security along major highways, noting that former kidnappers’ hideouts are now occupied by military detachments. It added that technology-driven surveillance and forest-clearing operations had also been deployed to deny criminals safe havens near major roads.
Fanwo commended Edo and Kwara states for supporting joint security efforts and noted that ongoing road rehabilitation projects were making it increasingly difficult for criminals to operate.
He also praised lawmakers and community leaders for supporting vigilante groups and hunters through funding, logistics, training and operational assistance, adding that the Kogi State Vigilante Service had been strengthened with pensionable appointments to improve professionalism.
According to the government, Kogi’s local security framework closely resembles a state policing system, although it lacks constitutional backing and access to the required training and equipment.
Reaffirming the state’s commitment to tackling insecurity, the government said it had acquired more than 10 armoured tactical vehicles and would continue investing in security infrastructure instead of negotiating with criminals.
On the debate over state police, officials argued that protecting lives should take precedence over concerns about possible political abuse, maintaining that locally recruited officers possess better knowledge of their communities and terrain.
The government also condemned attempts to politicise security challenges, insisting that insecurity should never be exploited for political gain.
It maintained that Kogi’s 2023 governorship election was among the most peaceful in the state’s history, attributing the outcome to deliberate reconciliation efforts and peaceful leadership.
While acknowledging that terrorism remains a challenge, officials distinguished it from election-related violence, arguing that the state’s current security threats are largely driven by criminal elements operating across state boundaries.
SCHOOL SAFETY
The government assured residents that the Safe Schools Programme remains active and said surveillance technology had already helped prevent several planned attacks, including an attempted attack on a church.
It further disclosed that additional armoured vehicles are expected in the state and commended security agencies and the Federal Government for their support in the successful rescue operation.
Fanwo concluded by acknowledging that security operations involve classified information but assured residents that the government would continue investing in security, strengthening inter-agency cooperation and adopting proactive measures to protect lives and property.
