Kogi Security Forces Rescue Four Kidnap Victims Abducted from Dekina Examination Centre

The Kogi State Government has announced the successful rescue of four persons abducted during a recent attack on an unauthorised examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of the state.

The victims, comprising a school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official and two students, were rescued on Thursday following a coordinated security operation involving multiple security agencies.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement, attributing the successful operation to the swift intervention ordered by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo immediately after the kidnapping.

According to the commissioner, the governor directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd.), to coordinate a joint rescue mission involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilante groups and other security operatives.

Fanwo said the operation saw security personnel storming the forest where the victims were believed to have been held, maintaining sustained pressure on the kidnappers.

He explained that while Governor Ododo was inspecting newly procured Armoured Personnel Carriers acquired by the state government to strengthen security operations, he assured journalists that every effort was being made to secure the release of the victims.

According to him, only a few hours after the governor’s assurance, the victims regained their freedom as the intense security operations forced the kidnappers to abandon them and flee.

“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,” Fanwo stated.

He added that security operatives have continued combing the forest to apprehend the fleeing suspects, stressing that the operation remains ongoing.

“Our resolve is clear: anyone who chooses the path of crime in Kogi State will face the full weight of the law,” he said.

The commissioner confirmed that all four victims were rescued unharmed and are currently undergoing debriefing and medical examinations in the custody of security agencies.

Fanwo commended the gallantry and professionalism of personnel of the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the Police, local vigilante groups and other security agencies involved in the operation, describing the rescue as another demonstration of the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in tackling insecurity.

He also conveyed the appreciation of the Kogi State Government to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the state’s security operations.

According to Fanwo, the President directed security chiefs to provide every necessary support to ensure the safe rescue of the victims, a move he said contributed significantly to the successful outcome of the operation.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Ododo’s administration to sustaining investments in intelligence gathering, security logistics and collaboration among security agencies to rid Kogi State of criminal elements and safeguard lives and property.