Blessing Bello, Reporting
THE National Examinations Council (NECO) has robustly refuted claims that a Kogi State school where five people were abducted during an examination is a so-called “miracle centre,” accusing officials of making statements that damage institutional reputations.
The row erupted after gunmen attacked Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area on Tuesday. While four of the five victims—including the principal and an examination supervisor—have since been rescued following a joint operation by the state government and security forces, the incident has sparked a war of words over the school’s status.
NECO expressed sympathy for those affected and commended the rescue efforts. However, the Council took strong exception to remarks made by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, who reportedly described the school as a “miracle centre” – a colloquial term for an institution facilitating mass exam malpractice.
In a strongly-worded statement issued on Friday, NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Azeez Sani, categorically denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded and detrimental to the integrity of a legitimate public institution.
A School with a 40-Year History
The Council defended the school’s credentials, pointing out that it is a state-owned institution with a history stretching back more than 40 years. It has been a recognised centre for the NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since 2000.
NECO also provided data to underscore the school’s legitimacy. According to the Council, the school has consistently presented candidates for the SSCE over the past five years, with figures showing a stable enrolment: 21 candidates in 2021, 20 in 2022, 28 in 2023, 40 in 2024, and 20 in 2025.
The Council further noted that the principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, who was among the abducted, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service. The supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu, is also a state government employee, a Grade Level 12 officer, posted to Community Secondary School, Effin.
NECO emphasised that the 28 candidates registered for the 2026 SSCE from the school are bona fide students, not external candidates, contradicting the impression given by the Commissioner’s remarks . It also noted that the Kogi State Government had paid the examination fees for 51 candidates from the same school for the just-concluded 2026 WAEC SSCE.
Security Concerns and Integrity of Exams
Highlighting the security challenges in the region, the Council disclosed that its Kogi State Coordinator had written to security agencies before the examination began, seeking support for a peaceful conduct. This precaution followed a recent attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu LGA during the 2026 WAEC exams.
Reiterating its zero-tolerance policy on exam malpractice, NECO urged public officials to verify their facts before making statements that could damage an institution’s reputation or cause unnecessary public panic.
“Under the leadership of Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Council has rolled out major reforms over the last five years, resulting in a sharp drop in reported malpractice cases,” the statement added.
