Unregistered orphanage in Lokoja raided in abduction of 23 children
Authorities confirm the Dahallukitab Group of Schools was operating without government knowledge; eight children and the proprietor's wife remain missing
Gunmen raided an unregistered facility in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria, and abducted at least 23 children and the wife of the proprietor late on Sunday. The attack targeted the Dahallukitab Group of Schools, which authorities have confirmed was operating illegally in an isolated area without the knowledge of relevant government bodies or security agencies.
Following the raid, security agencies mounted a prompt and coordinated response to the incident. These operations have led to the rescue of 15 children, though eight pupils and the proprietor's wife remain missing. Intensive operations are currently ongoing to secure the safe return of the remaining victims and to apprehend the perpetrators.
Kogi Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo stated that the facility was functioning as an orphanage in a remote location without official registration. He noted that while the statement did not disclose the specific ages of the abducted children, the use of the term "pupils" suggests the victims are likely in kindergarten or primary school, covering ages up to 12.
No armed group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. This lack of attribution complicates the investigation, as mass kidnappings in Nigeria's rural areas are often driven by gangs seeking quick revenue, particularly where government presence is limited.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of multiple security challenges across the nation, including long-running violence by the Boko Haram armed group, bandit gangs, farmer-herder conflicts, and separatist movements in the southeast. The North Central Zone, where Kogi is located, has witnessed violent attacks, including school raids, in recent months.
A similar large-scale kidnapping of hundreds of students occurred in neighbouring Niger State in November, an attack security sources blamed on Boko Haram. Meanwhile, the ISIL-linked Lakurawa group continues to operate in northwestern communities bordering Niger, highlighting the persistent threat of armed violence in the region.
