Hours after the Kogi State Police Command disclosed that the kidnappers have made contact, demanding a ransom of N10 million for the four persons kidnapped during the National Examination Council (NECO) examination in Kogi State, the Kogi State Government last night announced the successful rescue of the four persons kidnapped at the examination center in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that the victims, comprising two students at Government Secondary School (GSS), Olowa, in Dekina Local Council Area of the state, their principal, and an ad-hoc staff member of NECO, were abducted on Tuesday evening.
Disclosing the development, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the rescue as the outcome of a coordinated security operation ordered by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo immediately after the incident.
According to the Commissioner, Governor Ododo 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 commended the gallantry and professionalism of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the police, local security operatives and all other agencies involved in the rescue mission, describing their swift response as another testament to the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in the fight against insecurity.