The National Examinations Council (NECO) has denied allegations that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State operates as a “miracle examination centre.”

‎This is contained in a statement on Friday in Abuja by its Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani.

He was reacting to comments credited to the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who reportedly described the school as a “miracle centre,” following the abduction of five persons at the centre on Tuesday.

‎Mr Sani described the allegations as false and misleading.

He said that the school, owned by the Kogi State Government, had existed for more than 40 years and had been presenting candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since 2000.

‎‎He said that the council sympathised with the victims and commended the Kogi State Government and security agencies for securing the rescue of the remaining four victims.

‎He, however, maintained that the school was a recognised examination centre with duly registered candidates.

‎According to him, the abducted principal, Daniel Iyamaa, is a grade level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service, while the kidnapped supervisor, Solomon Audu, is a grade level 12 officer employed by the state government.

‎He added that the 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 SSCE were bona fide students and not external candidates.

‎He said the school’s enrolment for the examination over the past five years remained consistent, with 21 candidates in 2021, 20 in 2022, 28 in 2023, 40 in 2024 and 20 in 2025.

Mr ‎Sani further noted that the state government paid the examination fees of 51 candidates from the same school for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

‎He said that before the commencement of the 2026 SSCE, its cordinator in Kogi State wrote to security agencies in the state, seeking support to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination.

‎He said the move followed an earlier terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in the Ijumu Local Government Area of the state during the 2026 WASSC.

‎Mr Sani reiterated the council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, saying the council had introduced reforms that had significantly reduced malpractice cases over the past five years.

‎He urged public officials and other stakeholders to verify information before making statements capable of damaging the reputation of institutions or causing unnecessary public anxiety.

(NAN)