Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi says his administration will never negotiate with criminals or pay ransom.

The governor spoke on the backdrop of the rescue of four persons abducted from an unauthorised examination centre in the Dekina Local Government Area of the state by security agencies.

The victims, the principal of Government Secondary School, Olowa, Daniel Iyanda; NECO official, Solomon Peter; and two female candidates, Dorcas Sunday and Miss Dorcas, were rescued alive at about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday.

Mr Ododo made the declaration at a joint news conference on Friday at the Government House, Lokoja, attended by the heads of all security agencies in the state.

“This incident came to us as a shock.

“Let me reiterate that we will never negotiate with criminals. We will never pay ransom. We will rid Kogi of criminals,” Mr Ododo said.

He said education remained a top priority, with the government paying both internal and external examination fees from primary to secondary school.

“It is painful that in spite of these efforts, some selfish elements exploited our system.

“Our findings show that the centre was unauthorised and located in a school earlier shut down due to security concerns.

“The victims were external candidates, not on our government-sponsored register,” he stated.

The governor said the investigation is ongoing and the report would be made public.

Mr Ododo commended the security agencies and President Bola Tinubu for their support.

“Nobody should live in fear. Kogi is safe. The manhunt continues, and security agencies remain deployed in the Dekina forests,” Mr Ododo said.

The governor warned that all public examinations must be in approved centres, and the Ministry of Education will sanction operators of illegal centres.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Naziru Kankarofi, said the abduction occurred on Tuesday when armed men attacked the centre where the NECO examination was being conducted for 10 candidates.

“Immediately, I proceeded to the scene with the Commander, 12 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Kasim Sidi, and State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to coordinate rescue operations,” Mr Kankarofi said.

He said joint teams of police, the army, the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), vigilantes, and hunters conducted bush-combing operations.

“At about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, all four victims were rescued alive and reunited with authorities. No life was lost,” he added.

The CP said the investigation revealed that the abandoned school was unlawfully used as a “special examination centre” and the classroom had a history of exam malpractice.

“Anyone found to have violated the law will be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

(NAN)