Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kogi State Government has confirmed that 15 pupils have been rescued, while eight others remain in captivity after gunmen stormed an unregistered orphanage and school facility in the Zariagi area of Lokoja late Sunday night. The assailants, who have not been identified by authorities, invaded the premises of the Dahallukitab Group of Schools around 10:30 p.m. on April 26, 2026, firing sporadically before whisking away 23 pupils and the wife of the proprietor, Mallam Mohammed Tanko Tajudeen. Security agencies, led by the Nigeria Police Force, responded swiftly, rescuing 15 of the children, but intensive operations are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining eight victims and the abducted woman.
According to residents of the quiet community along the Lokoja–Okene road in Adavi Local Government Area, the attack was sudden and terrifying. “We started hearing gunshots from that area late in the night,” a resident of a neighbouring village, who requested anonymity, told Daily Trust. “This morning, we heard that the gunmen attacked the orphanage and school, abducting pupils, the proprietor’s wife, and some staff.” The Divisional Police Officer in charge of ‘B’ Division Lokoja swiftly mobilised a joint team of security personnel upon receiving the report, conducting an on-the-spot assessment before launching coordinated rescue operations. The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, has since visited the scene and directed the deployment of additional tactical teams, including bush combing, intelligence gathering, and surveillance operations.
Authorities have not disclosed further details about the remaining eight pupils or the stolen woman, nor have any arrests been made public. The Kogi State Police Command has not issued an official statement on the incident beyond confirming the rescue, but security sources say efforts are being intensified to track the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the Kogi State Government, which condemned the attack as “unfortunate and avoidable.” In a statement issued Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed that the Dahallukitab Group of Schools was not registered with the state government and had been operating illegally in a remote, bushy area of Zariagi, along the Kabba Junction axis. “The facility, identified as Dahallukitab Group of School, was operating illegally in a remote, bushy environment without registration with the State Government and without the knowledge of relevant authorities and security agencies,” Fanwo said. He noted that the government raised concerns over the proliferation of unregistered institutions in isolated locations, warning that such setups pose serious security risks, especially in the current climate. “The operation of such facilities outside regulatory oversight not only undermines safety standards but also exposes innocent children to avoidable dangers,” the commissioner stated.
The commissioner further urged operators of orphanages and schools to comply strictly with existing regulations and engage relevant authorities for proper security assessment and protection. He reaffirmed the government’s “uncompromising commitment to the protection of lives and property” and said security operations remain active to bring the situation under full control.
The attack on the Kogi orphanage is the latest in a series of school abductions that have come to define Nigeria’s deepening security crisis. Armed gangs have increasingly targeted educational institutions, viewing students as “strategic” assets to draw attention and demand ransoms. Although the Kogi State Police Command has not yet issued an official statement as of Monday, the state government has assured that rescue efforts are underway and that the perpetrators will be apprehended. Residents of the Zariagi community, still reeling from the attack, have called for increased security presence in the area and for proper vetting of orphanages and schools operating in remote locations.
As the search for the missing children continues, the families of the abducted wait in anguish, hoping for their safe return.
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