By Joy Yesufu
The Kogi State Government has successfully rescued the principal and students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, who were abducted during an attack on the school in Dekina Local Government Area.
Four victims comprising the principal, one National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc official, and two students were freed following a coordinated security operation, the state government confirmed on Friday.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Morning Show,’ the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said Governor Usman Ododo immediately launched a manhunt for the kidnappers upon receiving news of the abduction.
“The governor immediately summoned the state security adviser and mandated him to coordinate efforts to ensure their immediate rescue,” Fanwo said.
Security agencies including the Army, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), civil defense, vigilante groups, and local hunters—were deployed within hours and “saturated” the area, according to the commissioner.
Fanwo said technology was used to track the kidnappers’ movements and block their exit points.
“We were also able to deploy technology to track the movement of those kidnappers and then all their exit points where they usually take their victims through were blocked.
“We cut off their logistics. There was tremendous pressure on them. The entire place was saturated with security operatives, and they had no choice than to quickly abandon the victims because of the hot pursuit.”
Fanwo said security forces continued pursuing the kidnappers even after the rescue.
“We didn’t stop at that. Despite the fact that we were able to rescue victims, we went after the kidnappers,” he said.
However, he declined to disclose the fate of the abductors, adding only: “I won’t say much of their fate right now.”
The abduction occurred on Tuesday when armed men invaded the school premises while students were writing NECO examinations. Six victims were initially taken, but four have now been rescued.
The Kogi State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the rescue operation.
