NECO denies allegation on miracle exam centre in Kogi

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has denied 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.”

Azeez Sani, the acting director of information and public relations at NECO, made this known on the council’s official X handle, when he stated that while the council sympathises with the victims and commends the Kogi State government and the security agencies for their coordinated efforts which has led to the rescue of the remaining four victims from captivity, it strongly disagrees with the statement credited to Kingsley Fanwo, the Kogi State commissioner for Information and Communications, who described the school as a “miracle centre.”

“NECO wishes to set the record straight by stating that the school, which is owned by the Kogi State government, has been in existence for over 40 years and has been presenting candidates for the NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since the year 2000.”

Furthermore, the statement explained that Daniel Iyamaa, the principal of the school, paid the examination fees for 51 SSCE candidates in the same school.

“It is also pertinent to note that the NECO state coordinator in Kogi State had, prior to the commencement of the 2026 SSCE, written to and solicited the support and cooperation of security agencies in the state to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination,” the statement read.

Sani in the statement emphasised that this proactive step was informed by the unfortunate terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Luke, in Ljumu Local Government Area during the 2026 WAEC Senior School Certificate Examination.

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Moreover, he emphasised that NECO, under the leadership of Dantani Wushishi, maintains zero tolerance for examination malpractice and has introduced far-reaching reforms aimed at safeguarding the credibility and integrity of its examinations.

According to NECO’s report, “These measures have led to a significant reduction in reported cases of examination malpractice over the past five years, the council therefore urges public officials and stakeholders to verify information before making public statements capable of undermining the reputation of institutions or causing unnecessary anxiety.”

Recall that the Kogi State government maintained that the school where four pupils were abducted during NECO examination is a ‘miracle centre,’ a phrase depicting a place where malpractice is encouraged in the local parlance.

The commissioner’s comment came after the rescue of the pupils, their principal, and an ad hoc staff member of NECO, who were abducted on Tuesday when the school in Odo-Ekina, Dekina Local Government Area of the state, came under attack.