Gunmen suspected to be bandits abducted 23 pupils and the proprietor’s wife from Dahallukitab Group of School, Zariagi, near Kabba Junction in Adavi LGA of Kogi State.
The attackers stormed the orphanage-school Sunday night, firing shots before taking the victims to an unknown location. The incident, which began around 10:30 p.m., threw the community into panic, with residents reporting prolonged gunfire.
Local sources said the facility serves both as a school and an orphanage, housing vulnerable children, raising fresh concerns over the safety of such institutions in isolated areas.
The Kogi State Government condemned the attack, describing it as unfortunate. Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed that 15 of the abducted pupils have been rescued through a joint security operation involving the police and other agencies.
He added that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims, while commending security operatives for their swift response.
The government also warned against the operation of unregistered schools and orphanages in remote locations, noting that such facilities are increasingly targeted amid rising insecurity in parts of the state and the country.
As of press time, the Kogi State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.