By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has denied that the examination centre at Government Secondary School, Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area (LGA) in Kogi state, where five persons, including the school's Principal were abducted on Tuesday is a 'miracle centre'.
NECO, according to a statement signed by,
Azeez Sani, the Acting Director, Information and Public Relations, made available to journalists in Minna said the school, one of the oldest in the area is owned by Kogi state government.
While expressing sympathy with families of the victims, NECO commended Kogi state government and security agencies for coordinated efforts that led to the rescue of the remaining four victims from captivity, the examination body said it strongly disagree with the statement credited to Kogi state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, description of the school as a 'miracle centre'.
"To set records straight, the school where five persons, including the school Principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa was abducted is owned by the Kogi state government. The school has been in existence for over 40 years and has been presenting candidates for NECO's Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since the year, 2000".
The statement further hinted that the Principal of the school, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, who was among those abducted is a GL 17 officer in the Kogi state Civil Service.
Similarly, the kidnapped Supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu, is a GL 12 officer employed by the Kogi state government and posted to Community Secondary School, Effin, the statement also stated.
Azeez Sani also explained that available records showed that the abducted candidates are duly registered students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, who were among those presented for the 2026 NECO SSCE by the school in conjunction with the Kogi state government.
Going by the Council's records, the Acting Director Information and Public Relations further indicated that the 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 SSCE are also bona fide students, not even external candidates, contrary to the impressions being created by the Kogi state Information Commissioner.
For the avoidance of doubts, the schools enrolment for the NECO SSCE over the past five years is as follows; 2025-20 candidates, 2024 -40 candidates, 2023-28 candidates, 2022-20 candidates and for the year, 2021-21 candidates
In adfition, Kogi state government in the recently concluded 2026 WAEC/SSCE, paid the examination fees for 51 candidates in the same school, the Council stated and wondered why the same government is claiming that it is a miracle centre.
"It is also pertinent to note that the NECO State Coordinator in Kogi State had, prior to the commencement of the 2026 SSCE, written to and solicited for the support and cooperation of security agencies in the state to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination. This proactive step was informed by the unfortunate terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu LGA during the 2026 WAEC Senior School Certificate Examination".
NECO, under the leadership of Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, maintains zero tolerance for examination malpractice and has introduced far-reaching reforms aimed at safeguarding the credibility and integrity of its examinations. These measures have led to a significant reduction in reported cases of examination malpractice over the past five years.
The Council therefore urges public officials and stakeholders to verify informations before making public statements capable of undermining the reputation of institutions or causing unnecessary anxiety. NNL.
