The National Examinations Council (NECO) has refuted claims by the Kogi State Government that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area, is an illegal “miracle centre.”
The dispute follows the recent attack on the school during the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), where five individuals were abducted.
While sympathizing with the victims and acknowledging the rescue of the final four abductees by security forces, the Council rejected statements made by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, regarding the school’s status.
In a statement signed by Azeez Sani, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, NECO clarified that the facility is a public institution owned by the Kogi State Government. The school has been in existence for over 40 years and has registered candidates for NECO examinations since the year 2000.
Enrolment Records and Civil Service Status Revealed
To counter the state government’s claims, NECO provided the official profiles of the staff involved and the school’s registration data:
“The Principal: Elder Daniel Iyamaa (among the abductees) is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service.
“The Supervisor: Mr. Solomon Audu (also abducted) is a Grade Level 12 state civil servant deployed from Community Secondary School, Effin.
“The Candidates: All 28 candidates registered for the 2026 SSCE are internal students of the institution, not external candidates,” the Council stated.
NECO further revealed that the Kogi State Government fully paid the West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for 51 students from the same school during the 2026 examination cycle earlier in the year.
Security Request Preceded the Attack
The Council disclosed that prior to the start of the 2026 SSCE, the NECO Kogi State Coordinator had formally written to security agencies requesting protection for examination centres across the state.
According to NECO, this request was prompted by an earlier terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu Local Government Area, which occurred during the 2026 WAEC examinations.
Reaffirming its position on exam ethics, NECO stated that reforms under its Registrar, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, have lowered malpractice rates over the past five years. The Council urged public officials to verify operational facts before issuing statements that could harm institutional reputations.
