The National Examinations Council (NECO) has dismissed claims that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State is a “miracle centre,” insisting that the school is a legitimate public institution that has consistently presented candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since 2000.
The examination body made the clarification on Friday in response to allegations that surfaced after gunmen abducted five persons, including examination officials and candidates, during the ongoing 2026 NECO SSCE.
In a statement signed by its Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, NECO described the allegation as false, stressing that the school is owned by the Kogi State Government and has operated for more than 40 years.
“The National Examinations Council categorically denies the allegation that the examination centre at Government Secondary School, Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, where five persons were abducted on Tuesday, is a ‘miracle centre’,” the statement read.
While sympathising with the victims, the council commended the Kogi State Government and security agencies for rescuing four of those abducted.
NECO also disagreed with comments attributed to the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who reportedly described the school as a miracle centre.
According to the council, Government Secondary School, Olowa, has been in existence for over four decades and has consistently presented candidates for NECO examinations over the past 26 years.
The council disclosed that the school’s principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, who was abducted during the attack, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service, while the kidnapped external supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu, is a Grade Level 12 officer employed by the state government and posted to Community Secondary School, Effin.
NECO further stated that all 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 SSCE are duly enrolled students and not external candidates.
“Available records also show that the abducted candidates are duly registered students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, who were presented for the 2026 NECO SSCE by the school in conjunction with the Kogi State Government.
“The Council’s records further indicate that the 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 SSCE are bona fide students and not external candidates, contrary to the impression created by the Honourable Commissioner,” the statement added.
To reinforce its position, the council released the school’s SSCE enrolment figures over the past five years, showing that 21 candidates sat the examination in 2021, 20 in 2022, 28 in 2023, 40 in 2024 and 20 in 2025.
It also revealed that the Kogi State Government paid the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for 51 students from the school in the recently concluded 2026 examination.
NECO said it had taken proactive steps to improve security at examination centres, noting that its Kogi State Coordinator had written to security agencies before the commencement of the 2026 SSCE to request enhanced protection.
According to the council, the move followed an earlier attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu Local Government Area during the 2026 WASSCE.
Reaffirming its commitment to credible examinations, NECO said it maintains zero tolerance for examination malpractice and has implemented wide-ranging reforms under the leadership of its Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi.
The council said the reforms have significantly reduced reported cases of examination malpractice over the past five years and urged public officials and stakeholders to verify facts before making statements capable of undermining public confidence in educational institutions.
The controversy followed Tuesday’s abduction of the principal of Government Secondary School, Olowa, an external examination supervisor and candidates during the ongoing 2026 NECO SSCE. Four of the victims were later rescued by security agencies.
