Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a swift and coordinated response that brought relief to a community reeling from shock, operatives of the Kogi State Police Command have rescued 17 pupils from an Islamic boarding school and orphanage in the Zariagi area of Lokoja, following a brazen armed abduction that saw 24 children and two women carted away by yet‑to‑be‑identified gunmen. The incident occurred late Sunday night, April 26, 2026, when assailants invaded the Daarul Kitab School, an institution that also operates as an orphanage, located along NNPC Road, Kabba Junction, in an isolated area of Lokoja. The attackers reportedly fired sporadically before taking 26 persons hostage, including 24 pupils and the proprietor’s two wives, Mallam Mohammed Tanko Tajudeen’s spouses.
Upon receiving the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B’ Division Lokoja mobilised a joint team of police, military and other security agencies, proceeding to the scene for an on‑the‑spot assessment. According to a press release issued Monday morning by the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, the operatives quickly mapped out strategies and launched a coordinated rescue operation that led to the safe recovery of 17 of the abducted pupils. The remaining nine victims — seven pupils and the two wives of the proprietor — are still in captivity, with intensive bush combing, intelligence gathering and surveillance operations ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, psc, mni, has personally visited the scene to assess the situation and ordered a massive deployment of tactical teams to strengthen the ongoing efforts. “Rescue operations are ongoing by joint security operatives comprising the Police, Military, and other security agencies, with concerted efforts being intensified to secure the safe release of the remaining victims,” the statement read. The CP also urged members of the public to remain calm and to provide credible information that could aid the operation, assuring that all tips would be treated with strict confidentiality.
The Daarul Kitab School, which also houses an orphanage, had earlier been described by the Kogi State Government as operating illegally in an isolated, bushy environment without registration with the state government. However, the police press release did not comment on the registration status of the institution, focusing instead on the abduction and the ongoing rescue mission. The facility is located in a remote stretch of the Kabba Junction area, which has in the past witnessed occasional security breaches due to its thick vegetation and poor road networks. The remoteness of the school may have made it a target for the attackers, who are believed to have taken advantage of the area’s low visibility and sparse population to carry out the raid.
The speed of the police response has been praised by local residents, who said they heard sporadic gunfire around midnight but were afraid to intervene. The rescue of 17 pupils within hours of the abduction is seen as a significant achievement, especially given that earlier reports had placed the number of abducted children higher than the final tally. The police clarification that 24 pupils and two women were taken, with 17 pupils rescued, means that seven children and the two adult women remain unaccounted for. Authorities have not disclosed whether any ransom demand has been made, nor have they identified any suspects or groups responsible.
The incident is the latest in a series of mass abductions targeting educational institutions and vulnerable populations in northern and central Nigeria. In Borno State, over 400 women and children are still being held by Boko Haram after a March attack on Ngoshe community. In Kogi, which had long been considered relatively peaceful compared to states like Zamfara and Kaduna, the attack on Daarul Kitab School signals a worrying spread of kidnapping for ransom to areas previously less affected. The Kogi State Government had earlier expressed concern over the proliferation of unregistered schools and orphanages operating in remote, unsecured locations, and this incident may prompt stricter regulatory oversight.
As the search for the remaining nine victims continues, families of the abducted pupils and the wives of the proprietor wait in agony. The police have set up control room numbers (0703 832 9084 and 0815 219 5982) for the public to report any useful information. The Commissioner of Police has reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property across the state and has called on residents to support the police in the collective fight against crime.
The successful rescue of the 17 pupils is a testament to the professionalism and courage of the security forces, but the ordeal is not over. With seven children and two adult women still held captive, every hour counts. The police have vowed not to relent until the remaining victims are freed and the perpetrators arrested. For the families, the only prayer is that the next press release brings news of complete freedom, not further heartbreak.
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