The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially denied accusations that Government Secondary School, Olowa, located in Kogi State, functions as a so-called miracle examination centre. This rebuttal follows remarks made by Kingsley Fanwo, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, after five individuals were kidnapped during the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination.
NECO acknowledged the safe recovery of the four remaining hostages and expressed sympathy for those affected. However, the agency defended the school’s legitimacy, noting it has been a state-owned institution for over four decades and has consistently registered candidates for NECO examinations since 2000. Acting Director of Information Azeez Sani clarified that the school’s principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, and the kidnapped supervisor, Solomon Audu, are both recognized state civil servants.
The examination body explicitly rejected claims that the 28 students registered for the 2026 exam were irregular participants. Data provided by NECO confirms the school has a stable enrollment history, presenting between 20 and 40 candidates annually over the last five years. Furthermore, the state government funded 51 candidates for the 2026 WASSCE at the same location, proving its status as a standard public facility.
Regarding safety, NECO noted that its state coordinator had previously requested increased security presence following an earlier attack on a school in Ijumu. The Council concluded by stressing its commitment to examination integrity under Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi and advised officials to verify information before making public statements that could harm institutional reputations.
