The National Examinations Council has rejected claims that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, operates as a “miracle examination centre.”
NECO described the allegation as false and misleading.
The council made the clarification in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani.
Sani was reacting to comments attributed to the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, following the abduction of five persons at the examination centre on Tuesday.
Fanwo was reported to have described the school as a “miracle centre” after the incident.
NECO, however, said the description was inaccurate and could damage the reputation of a recognised public school and examination centre.
According to Sani, Government Secondary School, Olowa, is owned by the Kogi State Government and has existed for more than 40 years.
He said the school had been presenting candidates for NECO’s Senior School Certificate Examination since 2000.
The council also sympathised with the victims of the abduction and commended the Kogi State Government and security agencies for efforts that led to the rescue of the remaining victims.
NECO maintained that the school is a legitimate examination centre with properly registered candidates.
Sani said the abducted principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service.
He added that the kidnapped supervisor, Solomon Audu, is also a state government employee on Grade Level 12.
The NECO spokesperson said the 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination were genuine students of the school.
He dismissed claims that they were external candidates.
Sani said the school’s examination enrolment over the last five years showed consistency.
According to him, the school registered 21 candidates in 2021, 20 in 2022, 28 in 2023, 40 in 2024 and 20 in 2025.
He also disclosed that the Kogi State Government paid the examination fees of 51 candidates from the same school for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
Sani further said that before the start of the 2026 SSCE, NECO’s Kogi State Coordinator had written to security agencies in the state to request support for the safe and smooth conduct of the examination.
He explained that the request followed an earlier terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu Local Government Area during the 2026 WASSCE.
NECO reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice.
The council said it had introduced reforms that had helped reduce examination malpractice cases significantly over the past five years.
Sani urged public officials and other stakeholders to verify information before making public statements.
He said unverified claims could damage institutional credibility, create public anxiety and undermine confidence in the examination system.
NECO said it remained committed to protecting the integrity of its examinations and ensuring that candidates sit for assessments under credible and properly supervised conditions.
