By Felix Khanoba
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has dismissed claims that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, operates as a “miracle examination centre,” describing the allegation as false and misleading.
The council’s reaction follows comments reportedly made by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, after five persons linked to the school were abducted on Tuesday.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, NECO expressed sympathy for the victims while commending the Kogi State Government and security agencies for securing the release of the remaining four abductees.
However, the examination body said it strongly disagreed with the commissioner’s description of the school.
“The National Examinations Council (NECO) 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.
According to NECO, Government Secondary School, Olowa, is a public institution owned by the Kogi State Government and has existed for more than four decades.
It added that the school has consistently presented candidates for the NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since 2000.
The council further stated that the school’s principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, who was among those abducted, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service.
It also identified the abducted examination supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu, as a Grade Level 12 officer employed by the Kogi State Government and posted to Community Secondary School, Effin.
NECO maintained that its records confirmed that the abducted candidates were genuine students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, who were duly registered by the school, in collaboration with the Kogi State Government, for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination.
It stressed that all 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 examination were regular students and not external candidates.
“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 said.
To support its position, NECO released the school’s SSCE enrolment figures over the last five years, showing that it presented 21 candidates in 2021, 20 in 2022, 28 in 2023, 40 in 2024 and 20 in 2025.
The council also disclosed that the Kogi State Government paid the 2026 WAEC Senior School Certificate Examination fees for 51 candidates from the same school.
NECO revealed that before the commencement of the 2026 SSCE, its Kogi State Coordinator had written to security agencies requesting support to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations across the state.
According to the council, the request became necessary following the terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu Local Government Area during the 2026 WAEC Senior School Certificate Examination.
Reaffirming its commitment to credible examinations, NECO said the current management under Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi remains uncompromising in the fight against examination malpractice.
“NECO, under the leadership of Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, maintains zero tolerance for examination malpractice and has introduced far-reaching reforms aimed at safeguarding the credibility and integrity of its examinations. These measures have led to a significant reduction in reported cases of examination malpractice over the past five years.”
The council urged public officials and other stakeholders to verify information before making public statements that could damage the reputation of institutions or create unnecessary public anxiety.
