Kogi rescues abducted principal, NECO official, two students

Kogi State authorities have confirmed the successful rescue of four individuals, including a school principal, a NECO official, and two students, who were abducted from an unauthorized examination center in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area. The rescue operation was a direct response to an attack on the center.

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Shortly after the kidnapping incident, the governor directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (retd.), to coordinate the rescue operation.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, stated that Governor Usman Ododo immediately ordered a coordinated security operation following the kidnapping. The State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara, led a joint effort involving the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, and local vigilantes. Security operatives stormed the forest where the victims were held.

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The State Security Adviser and the leadership of the 12 Brigade and the 21 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the police and local security operatives stormed the forest to ensure the victims were rescued.

Fanwo explained that sustained pressure and the saturation of the forest by armed security personnel forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee. The operation is ongoing to apprehend the criminals. The rescued individuals are reported to be safe and are undergoing debriefing and medical checks.

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A few hours later, the victims regained their freedom. The sustained pressure on the kidnappers and the saturation of the forest by heavily armed security personnel forced the criminals to abandon the victims and flee.

The state government commended the professionalism and gallantry of all security agencies involved, highlighting their effective inter-agency collaboration. Governor Ododo also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state's security efforts, noting that the President's directive to security agencies yielded the desired result. The government reiterated its determination to ensure that criminals face the full weight of the law.

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We are determined to ensure that none of the criminals escapes justice. Our resolve is clear: anyone who chooses the path of crime in Kogi State will face the full weight of the law.