Armed attackers stormed an orphanage on the outskirts of Lokoja in north-central Nigeria, taking away 23 pupils in a brazen raid that has rattled authorities. Officials say 15 of the children have since been recovered, while efforts continue to locate the remaining victims.

The incident reportedly happened in an ‘isolated part’ of Kogi State’s capital. According to the state’s information commissioner, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the facility involved, Dahallukitab Group of Schools, was not legally registered.

No group has stepped forward to claim responsibility, though kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly frequent in the region. While the statement did not specify the ages of those taken, the use of the term “pupils” in Nigeria typically refers to children in kindergarten or primary school, generally no older than 12.

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“Intensive operations are ongoing to secure the safe return of the remaining eight victims and apprehend the perpetrators,” Fanwo said.

Abductions of schoolchildren have become a grim hallmark of Nigeria’s broader security challenges. Analysts indicate that armed groups often target schools deliberately, viewing students as high-impact leverage for publicity and ransom demands.

The country continues to battle with overlapping threats, particularly across its northern regions where a long-running insurgency persists. Militant groups such as Boko Haram and its offshoot ISWAP remain active, alongside other factions like the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating near the border with Niger.

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