In a tragic late-night raid on Monday, unidentified gunmen stormed the Dahallukitab Group of Schools, an orphanage and school located in an isolated a
In a tragic late-night raid on Monday, unidentified gunmen stormed the Dahallukitab Group of Schools, an orphanage and school located in an isolated area of Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State.
According to the Associated Press, the attackers abducted 23 pupils along with the wife of the facility’s proprietor.
While official reports have not specified the children’s exact ages, they are referred to as “pupils,” a term that typically encompasses children under the age of 12.
Following the abduction, a swift joint operation by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies led to the rescue of 15 children.
However, as of April 27, eight children and the proprietor’s wife remain in captivity.
Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the State Commissioner for Information, stated that the facility had been operating illegally in a remote “bushy environment” without government registration, which may have contributed to its vulnerability.
This incident marks a chilling escalation in Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis, as it is the first time an orphanage has been specifically targeted in such a manner.
Mass abductions from educational institutions have become a hallmark of the security challenges facing the nation, with armed gangs often viewing students as high-value strategic targets for ransom.
While no group has claimed responsibility for this specific raid, the region continues to grapple with various factions, including Boko Haram and other bandit groups.
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