By Ghazali Ibrahim
Gunmen have abducted at least 23 pupils and a woman during an attack on an orphanage and school facility in Kogi State, sparking fresh concerns over insecurity in Nigeria’s north-central region.
The incident occurred late on April 26 in the Zariagi area of Lokoja, the state capital, where the attackers stormed the premises of the Dahallukitab Group of Schools, an orphanage facility located in a remote area.
According to authorities, the assailants took away 23 children alongside the wife of the school proprietor during the raid.
The Kogi State Government confirmed the attack, noting that the facility was operating without proper registration and was situated in an isolated location, factors officials say may have made it vulnerable.
Security operatives, including the police and other agencies, launched a swift response following the incident, leading to the rescue of 15 of the abducted pupils. However, efforts are ongoing to locate and free the remaining victims.
State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, commended the security agencies for their prompt intervention, describing the attack as unfortunate while assuring residents that operations are underway to apprehend the perpetrators.
The latest incident underscores the growing wave of kidnappings in Kogi and other parts of Nigeria, where schools and vulnerable institutions have increasingly become targets for armed groups seeking ransom.
