Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has reaffirmed the zero tolerance approach of his administration to negotiate with or pay ransom to criminals in the state.
Governor Ododo disclosed this at a press conference at the Government House in Lokoja following the successful rescue of four persons abducted during an attack on an illegal examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area.
Governor Ododo described the incident as unfortunate and vowed that every individual involved in the crime would be apprehended and prosecuted.
The rescued victims include a school principal, a National Examinations Council (NECO) official and two students who were abducted during the attack.
Governor Ododo disclosed that the rescue was achieved through a coordinated security operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilante groups and other security agencies, following his directive to the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to coordinate the mission.
He commended the gallantry and professionalism of the security agencies, describing the operation as another demonstration of the effectiveness of intelligence-driven, inter-agency collaboration in tackling insecurity.
The Governor also praised members of the host community for providing credible and timely intelligence that proved crucial to the rescue operation, urging residents across the state to sustain support for security agencies with useful information.
“The operation is still ongoing, and every one of those criminals will be apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.
Governor Ododo maintained that Kogi State remains resolute in its policy of refusing to negotiate with or pay ransom to criminal elements, stressing that rewarding kidnappers only emboldens criminality.
The Governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support, noting that the administration would continue to invest in intelligence gathering, security logistics and strategic collaboration among security agencies to safeguard lives and property across the country.
Commenting on the circumstances surrounding the incident, Governor Ododo revealed that preliminary information indicated the attack occurred at an unauthorized examination centre operating within the premises of Government Secondary School, Olowa, a school previously shut down by the state government because of its vulnerability following a security assessment.
He noted that the development was particularly disturbing because Kogi State fully sponsors examination fees for eligible students under its free education policy, making the existence of an illegal examination centre unjustifiable.
According to him, investigations are ongoing to determine the legality of the centre and identify all those responsible for its operation.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Commissioner of Police, Bello Kankarofi, said the successful rescue followed a well-coordinated intelligence-led operation involving all security agencies.
He explained that security operatives deployed into the forests mounted sustained pressure on the kidnappers, forcing them to abandon the victims, who were rescued safely at about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday.
The Commissioner confirmed that all four victims were rescued alive, had received immediate medical attention and were undergoing further care and debriefing by security agencies.
The police commissioner added that the facility was suspected to have been used for examination malpractice, stressing that investigations were ongoing and that anyone found to have violated the law would be arrested and prosecuted.
Kankarofi commended Governor Ododo for his swift response and unwavering support to security agencies, while applauding the professionalism of the joint security team for ensuring that no life was lost during the operation.
He assured residents that efforts were ongoing to identify, profile and apprehend every individual connected with the criminal act, urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies in the collective fight against insecurity.
