The National Examinations Council has dismissed allegations that Government Secondary School Olowa in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State operates as a miracle examination centre. The denial follows remarks by Kogi State Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo who described the school as a miracle centre after gunmen abducted five persons during the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination.
NECO Acting Director of Information Azeez Sani issued a statement in Abuja on Friday. He called the commissioner’s statement false and misleading. Sani said the school is a legitimate public institution owned by the Kogi State Government. It has existed for over 40 years. The school has presented candidates for NECO examinations since 2000. The abducted principal Elder Daniel Iyamaa holds Grade Level 17 in the state civil service. The kidnapped supervisor Solomon Audu is a Grade Level 12 officer posted to Community Secondary School Effin.
NECO confirmed all 28 candidates registered for the 2026 SSCE at the school are bona fide students. The council provided five years of enrolment data to support its claim. The school registered 21 candidates in 2021. It registered 20 in 2022. The number rose to 28 in 2023. It peaked at 40 in 2024. The figure dropped to 20 in 2025. NECO also disclosed the Kogi State Government paid WAEC fees for 51 candidates from the same school for the 2026 examination. This directly contradicts the impression that the school harbours external candidates.
The abduction occurred on Tuesday. Security agencies rescued four of the five victims. NECO commended the Kogi State Government and security agencies for their efforts. The council had requested security support for the 2026 SSCE before the examination started. This request followed a terrorist attack on Government Secondary School Iluke in Ijumu Local Government Area during the 2026 WAEC examination. NECO reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice. It said reforms introduced under Registrar Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi have reduced malpractice cases significantly over the past five years.
The council’s pre-examination security request reveals a pattern of anticipated threats. Government Secondary School Olowa is the second school attacked in Kogi State during national examinations this year. The first attack occurred at Government Secondary School Iluke during the WAEC examination. Security experts say the attacks follow a pattern of targeting schools in remote areas with weak security infrastructure. NECO’s request indicates the council anticipated threats. The failure to prevent the attack suggests systemic gaps in intelligence sharing between examination bodies and security agencies.
NECO’s enrolment data for Government Secondary School Olowa shows a consistent pattern of candidate registration. The figures reveal a peak in 2024 followed by a decline in 2025. This pattern mirrors national trends in SSCE registration. Education analysts say the decline reflects demographic shifts and economic pressures on families. The Kogi State Government’s payment of WAEC fees for 51 candidates from the same school indicates a broader state policy of subsidising examination costs. This policy contrasts with other states where candidates bear the full cost of examination fees.
Sani urged public officials to verify information before making statements that could damage institutional credibility. He said unverified claims create public anxiety and undermine confidence in the examination system. NECO said it remains committed to ensuring credible and properly supervised examinations. The council warned that false allegations against examination centres could deter students from registering for future examinations. It called for greater collaboration between state governments and examination bodies to protect the integrity of the education system.
