NECO STRONGLY REJECTS CLAIMS LABELING KIDNAPPED EXAM VENUE A COMPROMISED CENTER
By Sandra Kenneth
17\07\2026
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has strongly defended the integrity of Government Secondary School, Olowa, in the Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, firmly dismissing allegations that the institution operates as an examination "miracle centre."
The council clarified the school's status on Friday following public speculation and comments that surfaced after the recent abduction of five individuals—including examination officials and candidates—during the ongoing 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
In an official statement signed by the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, NECO rejected the derogatory label, emphasizing that the school is a legitimate public institution owned by the Kogi State Government and has been operational for over 40 years.
"The National Examinations Council categorically denies the allegation that the examination centre at Government Secondary School, Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, where five persons were abducted on Tuesday, is a ‘miracle centre’,"
The exam body explicitly countered reported remarks from the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who allegedly characterized the school as a miracle centre. NECO noted that its official records show the school has consistently presented legitimate candidates for its examinations for the past 26 years, dating back to the year 2000.
Providing further details on the profiles of those involved, the council stated that the school’s principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, who was among those kidnapped, is a high-ranking Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service. Furthermore, the abducted external supervisor, Solomon Audu, is a Grade Level 12 state employee deployed from Community Secondary School, Effin.
NECO also verified that the 28 candidates registered at the school for the 2026 SSCE are all bona fide, fully enrolled students of the institution, rather than external candidates brought in for compromised exams.
"Available records show that the abducted candidates are duly registered students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, who were presented for the 2026 NECO SSCE by the school in conjunction with the Kogi State Government," the statement added.
While expressing deep sympathy for the victims and their families, NECO commended the coordinated security efforts of the Kogi State Government and local security agencies, which have successfully resulted in the rescue of four of the abducted individuals from captivity.
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