By Ayomide Otitoju
At least 23 pupils have been abducted by armed men during an attack on an unregistered orphanage and school facility in the Zariagi area of Lokoja, Kogi State, in an incident that also saw the proprietor’s wife taken away.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday evening, targeted the facility identified as Dahallukitab Group of School along the Kabba Junction axis.
In a statement on Monday, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said preliminary findings showed the institution was operating illegally in a remote, bushy location without registration or approval from relevant authorities.
According to him, 23 pupils and the proprietor’s wife were initially abducted by unknown gunmen, but security operatives, led by the Nigeria Police Force, swiftly mobilised to the scene and rescued 15 of the children.
He added that coordinated search-and-rescue operations are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining eight victims and apprehend the attackers.
Fanwo commended security agencies for their rapid response, while stressing that the operation of schools and orphanages in isolated areas without proper registration poses serious security risks.
He urged operators of such facilities to comply with regulatory requirements and engage relevant authorities for proper oversight and protection.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, noting that security operations remain active and further updates will be provided as developments unfold.
The incident comes weeks after a separate kidnapping on the Ayere–Kabba Road, where armed attackers intercepted a passenger bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja, prompting a wider security response across parts of the state.
