The Kogi State Government has announced the successful rescue of victims abducted during Tuesday’s attack on a school in Odo-Ekina, Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, who regained their freedom on Thursday, included the school principal, an ad-hoc staff member of the National Examination Council (NECO), and students who were kidnapped when suspected gunmen invaded the school while they were writing their examination.
Confirming the development in a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, said “the rescue followed a coordinated security operation launched on the directive of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo immediately after the attack”.
According to Fanwo, Governor Ododo had earlier assured residents that the government would spare no effort in securing the safe release of the victims, while inspecting the newly acquired Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the state to strengthen the fight against criminality.
“Just this evening, while inspecting the Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the Kogi State Government to strengthen the fight against criminality, the Governor assured newsmen that every effort was being made to secure the release of the victims.
“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.
“Security operatives remain in the forest, and the operation is still on-going. 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,” the commissioner said.
Fanwo added that the rescued victims are safe and currently receiving attention from security agencies.
“We can confirm that the School Principal, the NECO official, and the two students have all been rescued safely. They are hale and hearty and are currently with security agencies for debriefing and necessary medical checks,” he added.
He disclosed that shortly after the abduction, Governor Ododo directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to coordinate the rescue mission alongside security agencies operating in the state.
The commissioner commended the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local security operatives, and other agencies involved in the operation, describing their swift response as further evidence of the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in tackling insecurity.
Fanwo also expressed the Kogi State Government’s appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the rescue efforts.
“The President directed the heads of the security agencies to give Kogi every necessary support to rescue the victims.
“Today, that support has yielded the desired result. We are deeply grateful to Mr. President for standing firmly with Kogi State in our determination to protect lives and property,” he said.
Although the victims have been rescued, security operatives have continued combing the surrounding forests in a bid to apprehend the fleeing kidnappers and ensure they are brought to justice.
