Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted the principal of Government Secondary School, GSS, Opada-Olowa, a National Examinations Council, NECO, ad hoc staff, and four students in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, while students were writing their examinations.
How The Attack Happened
According to eyewitnesses, the armed assailants stormed the school premises during an ongoing exam, shooting indiscriminately and causing panic.
A community leader, Sunday Alkali, said residents were relaxing outside when the gunmen first appeared and retreated, before returning to open fire.
“The gunmen seemed surprised to see many people outside at that time of the day and initially retreated. They later returned, shooting indiscriminately, forcing everyone to flee for safety,” Alkali said.
Another resident said it was only after the gunfire stopped that they discovered the school had been attacked.
“We initially did not know what the gunmen were after. After the shooting stopped, some of us went to the school and found examination papers scattered across classrooms. There were no students or school officials in sight,” the resident said.
Victims Identified
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed that six persons were abducted:
1. Mr. Nyada Daniel – School Principal
2. Mr. Solomon Audu – NECO Ad Hoc Staff/Supervisor
3. Four Students – Writing Literature in English
Security sources said one of the abducted students has been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to free the remaining five.
Residents noted that the number of abducted students could have been higher, but only a limited number of candidates were writing Literature in English at the time.
A combined team of the Police, Army, vigilantes, and local hunters has launched a search-and-rescue operation and bush-combing around the area to track the kidnappers.
Spokesperson of the Kogi Police Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, confirmed the incident and said security agencies are on the trail of the assailants.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor are currently en route to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment,” she said.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said: “As I speak with you, soldiers, policemen, vigilantes and hunters are combing the surrounding forests in search of the kidnappers.”
Alkali also alleged that the abductors have contacted relatives of the victims, demanding ransom for their release.
“At least four families have received calls from the abductors demanding huge sums of money for the victims’ freedom,” he alleged.
The attack is the latest in a series of school abductions in North Central Nigeria, raising fresh concerns over the safety of students writing public examinations.
