The four victims rescued after being abducted during an attack on an examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, have arrived at the Government House in Lokoja.
A video shared by TVC on Friday showed Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, receiving the victims, including the school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official and two students, following their release from captivity.
Governor Ododo was accompanied by heads of security agencies in the state as he welcomed the rescued victims at the Government House.
The victims were freed during a coordinated security operation launched after gunmen attacked the examination centre and abducted them.
The Kogi State Government had announced on Thursday that the rescue was carried out by a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and other security operatives.
According to the government, the operation was initiated following a directive by Governor Ododo, who ordered security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, the National Examinations Council has defended the integrity of Government Secondary School, Olowa, following reports that described the institution as a “miracle centre.”
NECO maintained that the school is a legitimate public institution owned by the Kogi State Government and has been presenting candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since 2000.
The examination body also noted that the school has existed for more than four decades, dismissing allegations that it operates as an illegal examination centre.
The attack and subsequent rescue operation have once again highlighted growing concerns over security around educational institutions and examination centres across the country.
