Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Gunmen have abducted 23 pupils and the wife of a school proprietor following an attack on an orphanage and school facility in the Zariagi area of Lokoja, Kogi State.
Confirming the attack, Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, on Monday in Lokoja, disclosed that 15 abducted pupils have been rescued.
Nigerian Pilot gathered that the children were abducted from a facility, identified as Dahallukitab Group of Schools.
Fanwo in a statement condemned the attack, describing the incident as both unfortunate and preventable.
The commissioner disclosed that the school was operating outside regulatory oversight.
Speaking on the rescue, Fanwo said efforts are ongoing to free the remaining victims.
According to him, the attack occurred late on April 26, 2026, when armed men stormed the premises and abducted 23 pupils alongside the wife of the proprietor.
Fanwo said that security operatives, led by the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Command and supported by other sister agencies, responded promptly, launching coordinated operations that led to the rescue of the 15 victims.
The Information Commissioner commended the gallantry and professionalism of the security personnel, as he noted that their rapid response helped to significantly limit the scale of the tragedy.
He assured that intensified efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining victims and ensure that those behind the attack are apprehended and prosecuted.
The government however, expressed serious concern over the proliferation of unregistered orphanages and schools operating in isolated locations without oversight.
He warned that establishing orphanages, schools, and similar facilities in vulnerable areas without proper registration and notification to authorities poses serious security risks, especially with the prevailing security environment.
“The operation of such facilities outside regulatory oversight not only undermines safety standards but also exposes innocent children to avoidable dangers”, he stated.
The government, therefore, urged operators of orphanages and schools to comply strictly with existing regulations and engage relevant authorities for proper security assessment and protection.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, the Kogi State Government assured residents that security operations remain active and resolute in restoring calm and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
