Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has restated that his administration will not negotiate with kidnappers or pay ransom after security operatives rescued four people abducted from a purported National Examinations Council (NECO) examination centre in Dekina Local Government Area.
The governor spoke on Friday while receiving the rescued victims at the Government House in Lokoja. He praised the security agencies for carrying out the operation that led to the safe rescue of the victims.
Ododo maintained that his government would continue to take a firm stand against criminal groups, insisting that kidnappers would not succeed in their activities in Kogi State.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for providing support to security agencies in the fight against insecurity.
According to the governor, the backing from the Federal Government has strengthened efforts to tackle criminal activities across the state.
The governor further directed that a full investigation be carried out into the use of an abandoned government secondary school as a NECO examination centre.
He said the school had earlier been shut down because of security concerns and ordered authorities to determine how it was later approved for examination activities.
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, said the four victims rescued included the school principal, a NECO official and two female examination candidates.
He explained that joint security operatives sustained pressure on the kidnappers, forcing them to abandon the victims before escaping.
The police also revealed that the abandoned school was allegedly operating as an unauthorized special examination centre for 10 candidates.
Investigators believe the location had been used for examination malpractice, while efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest everyone connected with the abduction and the illegal examination centre.
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