April 27, (THEWILL) — Gunmen have attacked an orphanage-school facility in Zariagi, Lokoja, abducting 23 pupils and the wife of the proprietor.
A statement issued on Monday by the Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed that 15 of the victims have been rescued through ongoing security operations.
Fanwo explained that the attack occurred late on April 26 when armed assailants stormed the premises of the Dahallukitab Group of Schools.
He noted that the facility, situated in a remote, bushy location along the Kabba Junction axis, was operating illegally without registration or notification to relevant authorities, a situation he said exposed the occupants to heightened security risks.
According to him, security operatives led by the Nigeria Police Force, with support from other agencies, responded swiftly to the incident, launching a coordinated rescue mission that led to the safe recovery of 15 of the abducted pupils.
He commended the “gallantry and professionalism” of the operatives, stressing that their prompt intervention significantly curtailed the scale of the incident and ensured that many of the victims were returned unharmed.
The commissioner added that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining abductees, including the proprietor’s wife, assuring that security agencies are intensifying operations to bring the situation under full control.
The government also raised concerns over the proliferation of unregistered schools and orphanages in isolated areas, warning that such facilities pose serious security threats in the current environment.
“The operation of such facilities outside regulatory oversight not only undermines safety standards but also exposes innocent children to avoidable dangers,” Fanwo stated.
He urged proprietors of such institutions to comply strictly with existing regulations and engage with authorities for proper registration, monitoring, and security assessment.
Reiterating its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, the government assured residents that security operations remain sustained to ensure the safe return of all victims and prevent similar incidents in the future.
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