Summary: Armed bandits have invaded Government Secondary School Opada-Olowa in Kogi State, abducting the school principal, a NECO supervisor, and four students in a shocking attack that occurred right in the middle of ongoing examinations.
In yet another heartbreaking reminder of the insecurity plaguing many parts of Nigeria, armed bandits have stormed a secondary school in Kogi State, carting away students, a school principal, and an examination supervisor in broad daylight.
The attack, which occurred at Government Secondary School (GSS) Opada-Olowa in the Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, happened at one of the most vulnerable moments possible — right in the middle of ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
What Happened?
According to reports, the bandits invaded the school premises and abducted:
– Four students who were sitting for their NECO exams
– The school principal
– A NECO examination supervisor
The audacity of this attack is chilling. These students were simply trying to write their exams — an opportunity that many Nigerian families sacrifice so much to afford — only to be snatched away by criminals with zero regard for human life or the future of our children.
“Oya Run!” — The Fear That Now Follows Students to School
For millions of Nigerian parents, sending their children to school has become an act of faith and prayer. From the Chibok girls* whose abduction shook the world in 2014, to the **Kagara**, **Bethel Baptist**, and *Greenfield University kidnappings, the pattern is painfully familiar — and it is not getting better.
Now, even the sacred space of an examination hall is no longer safe.
Dekina Local Government Area is located in the northern part of Kogi State, a region that has increasingly faced threats from armed groups operating across the North Central zone. This latest incident raises serious questions about the security architecture protecting schools and civilians in such areas.
Kogi State Government Must Act
The people of Kogi — and indeed all Nigerians — deserve answers and, more importantly, action. Questions that must be addressed include:
– Where are the security operatives meant to protect communities in Dekina LGA?
– What is being done right now to rescue the abducted principal, supervisor, and students?
– Will the government engage with the bandits, and at what cost?
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the military, and other relevant bodies, must deploy all resources necessary to ensure the safe return of the victims without delay.
Our Children Are Not Bargaining Chips
Education is supposed to be the great equaliser — the one tool that gives every Nigerian child, whether from Opada-Olowa or Victoria Island, a fighting chance at a better life. When bandits walk freely into classrooms and examination halls, they are not just kidnapping individuals; they are kidnapping the future of an entire generation.
The Nigerian government, at both federal and state levels, must treat attacks on schools as the national emergency they truly are. The lives of these students, their principal, and the NECO supervisor depend on swift, decisive action.
We will continue to follow this story as more details emerge. Our thoughts are with the families of the abducted individuals during this incredibly difficult time.
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