Jane Salihu
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the successful rescue of all four persons abducted during the attack on Government Secondary School, Olowa Agbajo, in Dekina Local Government Area, following a coordinated joint security operation that forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives.
The Command said the victims were rescued at about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, after sustained intelligence-led operations and intensive bush-combing exercises carried out by security agencies.
The victims, identified as Elder Daniel Iyanda, Mr. Solomon Peter, Miss Dorcas Sunday and Miss Dorcas Samuel, were abducted during the attack on the school on July 14, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, the operation was coordinated by the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, alongside the Commander of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lokoja, Brigadier General Kasim Sidi, and the State Security Adviser to the Governor, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd.).
The statement explained that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, local vigilantes, hunters and other critical stakeholders worked together in the rescue mission, mounting sustained pressure on the kidnappers until the victims regained their freedom unharmed.
The Police Command disclosed that the suspected kidnappers have been identified and that security operatives have intensified efforts to apprehend them.
It noted that with the successful rescue of the victims, the operation has now shifted to tracking down and arresting all those responsible for the abduction.
“The perpetrators have been identified and efforts to apprehend them have reached an advanced stage. With the victims now safely rescued, security operatives are closing in on the suspects, who will be arrested and brought to justice,” the statement said.
The Command also announced that investigations have commenced into the alleged unauthorized use of the abandoned Government Secondary School, Olowa Agbajo, as a purported National Examinations Council (NECO) examination centre.
It warned that anyone found culpable in the matter would face the full weight of the law.
Commending the collaborative efforts that led to the success of the operation, the Commissioner of Police expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Nigerian Army, other security agencies, local vigilantes, hunters and community stakeholders for their unwavering support and cooperation.
The Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across Kogi State and appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information to strengthen ongoing efforts to combat crime and enhance public safety.
