Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A collective sigh of relief swept across Kogi State on Thursday, May 7, 2026, as the state government announced the safe rescue of all children abducted from the Daarul‑Kitab Islamic Orphanage in Lokoja, ending a harrowing 48‑hour ordeal that had gripped the nation and tested the capacity of security forces to protect the most vulnerable. According to an official statement released by the Kogi State Government, the rescue operation was executed in the early hours of May 6, 2026, by troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, working in close collaboration with other security agencies under a coordinated search‑and‑rescue framework. The statement did not provide the exact number of children rescued, but local sources indicate that more than fifteen minors, some as young as two years old, were freed unharmed and have since been reunited with the orphanage management.
The abduction occurred on the evening of May 4, 2026, when gunmen believed to be kidnappers stormed the Daarul‑Kitab Islamic Orphanage located in the Felele area of Lokoja. The attackers, who fired sporadically into the air to scare off neighbours, whisked the children away in two waiting vehicles and disappeared into the darkness. The orphanage, which cares for orphans and vulnerable children, became the scene of chaos as staff and nearby residents scrambled to alert the police. Within hours, a massive manhunt was launched, drawing in the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The Kogi State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, immediately issued a public appeal for calm and pledged that every resource would be deployed to bring the children back safely.
For two agonising days, the nation waited. Social media was flooded with prayers and calls for the safe return of the children. Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo canceled a scheduled public appearance to personally monitor the security response. In a statement on May 5, he assured residents that "every inch of forest and every known criminal hideout" was being combed by security forces. His words proved prophetic. In the early hours of May 6, a team of soldiers from the 12 Brigade, acting on actionable intelligence, located the kidnappers' camp in a forested area along the Lokoja‑Okene axis. A brief gunfight ensued. The outmatched kidnappers fled, abandoning the children in the process. No child was injured, and no ransom was paid.
The rescue operation was a rare and welcome success in a country where kidnapping for ransom has become a national scourge. Orphanages, schools, and even hospitals have not been spared the reach of criminal gangs, and the abduction of children from a care home touched a raw nerve. Governor Ododo, speaking to newsmen shortly after the rescue was confirmed, praised the security forces for their professionalism and restraint. "Our children are safe. They are being examined by medical doctors and will soon be reunited with their caregivers. I want to thank the Nigerian Army, the police, and all the agencies that worked tirelessly. This is a victory for the good people of Kogi State and for humanity," Ododo said.
The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Mr. Banjoko Owoeye, also issued a brief statement commending the troops and pledging that the hunt for the fleeing kidnappers would continue until all were apprehended. "We will not rest. Those who think they can terrorise innocent children will be hunted down and brought to justice," he said.
Reactions to the rescue poured in from across the country. The National Human Rights Commission praised the military for avoiding the use of excessive force, noting that the children were found in good health. The Nigerian Army, in a separate statement, said the operation demonstrated its commitment to the safety of all citizens, regardless of age or status. "The Nigerian Army will never abandon the most vulnerable. This rescue shows that we have the capacity to respond to any threat, anytime, anywhere," the statement read.
But the mood in Lokoja remained cautious. Many residents expressed relief, but also anger that criminals could target a children's home with such boldness. A community leader in Felele, Alhaji Garba Sadiq, told Stone Reporters News that security must be improved around schools and orphanages. "What if the soldiers had not acted in time? We must prevent this from ever happening again," he said.
The Daarul‑Kitab Islamic Orphanage has since been placed under enhanced police protection. The state government has also announced plans to deploy rapid response units to all registered orphanages and children's homes in the state. Additionally, the Ministry of Women Affairs has been directed to conduct a full audit of security protocols at all care facilities.
For the children, now sleeping in their familiar beds, the nightmare is over. For the nation, the rescue offers a rare moment of hope. And for the fleeing kidnappers, the message is clear: the military is watching, and the forest will not hide them forever.
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