Night Raid in Kogi: Gunmen Abduct Pupils, Proprietor’s Wife in Orphanage Attack
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted 23 pupils and the wife of the proprietor of Dahallukitab Group of School in Zariagi, near Kabba Junction along the Lokoja–Okene road in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The attack occurred late Sunday night when the armed men stormed the school premises—an institution that also functions as an orphanage—firing sporadically and creating panic before whisking the victims to an unknown destination.
Residents said the incident began around 10:30 p.m., disrupting the calm of the community. One villager described the moment as terrifying, recalling repeated gunshots before learning the next morning that pupils, the proprietor’s wife, and some staff had been abducted.
The Kogi State Government condemned the attack, describing it as unfortunate and avoidable.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed that 15 of the abducted pupils had been rescued following swift intervention by security agencies.
According to the government, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force responded promptly to the incident, helping to limit the scale of the attack, while efforts continue to rescue those still in captivity.
Authorities also expressed concern over the increasing number of unregistered schools and orphanages operating in remote areas, warning that such facilities are particularly vulnerable to attacks.
The government urged operators of similar institutions to comply with registration requirements and collaborate with authorities to strengthen security measures.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kogi State Police Command had not released an official statement, as attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful.
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