The Kogi State Government has announced the successful rescue of four individuals kidnapped during an attack on an unauthorized examination center in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area.

The victims — a school principal, a NECO official, and two students — were freed unharmed following a rapid, coordinated security operation, authorities said on Thursday evening.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed the development in an official statement, attributing the rescue to the prompt intervention ordered by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo immediately after the kidnapping.

According to Fanwo, Governor Ododo directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to lead a joint rescue mission involving the Nigerian Army (particularly the 12 Brigade and 21 Battalion), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilante groups, and other security operatives.

The security forces stormed the forest where the victims were held, applying sustained pressure on the kidnappers, who eventually abandoned the victims and fled. The operation remains ongoing, with security personnel continuing to comb the area to apprehend the fleeing criminals.

“Just this evening, while inspecting the Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the Kogi State Government to strengthen the fight against criminality, the Governor assured newsmen that every effort was being made to secure the release of the victims,” Fanwo stated. “A few hours later, the victims regained their freedom.”

The Commissioner confirmed that the rescued individuals are “hale and hearty” and are currently undergoing debriefing and medical checks with security agencies.

Fanwo commended the gallantry and professionalism of all security agencies involved, describing the swift rescue as a testament to effective inter-agency collaboration.

He also expressed the state government’s profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his direct intervention, which ensured full support from federal security agencies.

“The President directed the heads of the security agencies to give Kogi every necessary support to rescue the victims. Today, that support has yielded the desired result,” Fanwo said.

The Kogi State Government reiterated its zero-tolerance stance against criminality, assuring residents that it will continue to invest in intelligence, logistics, and collaboration to maintain security across the state.

The rescue comes as part of ongoing efforts by the Ododo administration to rid Kogi State of criminal elements.

The Federal Government, through the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), has officially released the results of the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges across Nigeria.

Announcing the results on Tuesday in Benin City, NABTEB Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, said a total of 15,290 candidates registered for the examination, which was conducted nationwide on June 13, 2026.

Out of the registered candidates, 13,848 (90.57%) sat for the exam, while 1,442 were absent. Of those who participated, 10,426 candidates, representing 75.29%, scored 50% and above. Additionally, 5,708 candidates (41.22%) scored 70% and above, while 3,422 (24.71%) scored below 50%.

A total of 31 candidates (0.22%) achieved the highest scores of 96% and above. The examination covered 28 trades, with electrical installation and maintenance practice recording the highest enrolment.

Dr. Mohammed noted a significant decline in enrolment compared to the previous year, with 15,290 candidates registering in 2026 against 29,260 in 2025 — a drop of about 47.74%. He attributed the examination’s smooth conduct to strict adherence to quality assurance guidelines and assured that the result-checking process would be seamless and secure.

The NCEE serves as a key gateway for admission into technical colleges, which are vital for developing skilled manpower to support Nigeria’s industrialization and technological advancement.

Candidates can now check their results through official NABTEB channels. A supplementary examination window is expected to open later in July for additional candidates.

Parents, guardians, and candidates are advised to visit their respective technical colleges or the NABTEB portal for further admission guidelines.

This development brings relief to thousands of families as the 2026/2027 academic session admission processes commence.

In a landmark ruling that reinforces Nigeria’s federal structure, the Court of Appeal sitting in Asaba has upheld a Federal High Court judgment barring the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from operating on state and local government roads across the country.

The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the FRSC in suit No. CA/AS/276/2019: FRSC Vs Darlington Ehikim, affirming the earlier decision of Justice E. Nwite of the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State.

The trial court had, on January 25, 2019, ruled in favour of the plaintiff, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Warri, granting all reliefs sought. These include a declaration that the FRSC has no legal authority to operate or carry out any activities on state and local government roads nationwide. The court also issued perpetual restraining orders against the commission and awarded N10 million in costs against it.

Reacting to the judgment, the plaintiff’s counsel, Mr. Kunle Edun, praised both the trial and appellate courts for upholding the rule of law. He described the ruling as a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s federalism, noting that as a federal agency, the FRSC should restrict its operations to federal highways only.

“FRSC personnel on roads inside cities and towns, except federal highways, have no business being there. Their operations on such roads are mainly to extort road users and are illegal,” Edun stated.

The judgment is expected to have far-reaching implications for road safety enforcement in Nigeria, potentially limiting the FRSC’s jurisdiction and shifting more responsibility to state traffic agencies on non-federal routes.

This decision comes amid ongoing debates about the powers and conduct of federal agencies in a federation, with many hailing it as a victory for constitutional boundaries and citizens’ rights.

The FRSC is yet to issue an official reaction to the latest development as of the time of filing this report.