Gunmen have abducted the principal of Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, one National Examinations Council ad hoc staff member and four students during the ongoing NECO examination in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

According to Punch, the attack happened at about 5:25 pm on Tuesday, July 14, while candidates were writing their examination.

The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza. She said the attackers kidnapped the school principal, one NECO ad hoc staff member and four students before fleeing the scene.

Oyiza said a joint team of police and other security agencies immediately launched a search and rescue operation. She added that one of the abducted students has already been rescued, while efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining victims and arrest those responsible.

The police spokesperson also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser, was travelling to the community for an on-the-spot assessment.

She said a more detailed statement would be released after additional verified information becomes available.

The incident comes days after another security breach in Kogi. The police recently confirmed that suspected bandits abducted passengers travelling with the corpse of a Federal Road Safety Corps official along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway.

According to the command, the abandoned vehicle and casket were recovered and the corpse was deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule. Security operatives are continuing efforts to rescue the remaining victims from that attack.