Abductors of children from an orphanage and school located in a remote area of Zariagi, along the Kabba Junction axis of Lokoja in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, have demanded a ransom of N150 million for their release.
The abduction, which occurred late on Sunday night, saw 26 persons—comprising 24 children and two wives of the proprietor—abducted when armed men invaded the facility.
A teacher at the school, Isah Hajarat, told our correspondent that the attack began at about 11:00 p.m., throwing the area into chaos.
“Some of the children managed to escape during the attack, but nine people are still in the custody of the abductors.
“The kidnappers have contacted the proprietor and are demanding a N150 million ransom,” he said.
One of the students who escaped, Faruk Alhassan, recounted the ordeal, describing how panic broke out when the gunmen stormed the premises.
“When they came, we started shouting and running for safety. Some of us hid in one of the rooms, but they followed us there and tried to take my younger brother. We all started crying,” he said.
Faruk added that he later fled into the bush, from where he contacted his father, who alerted security operatives.
Although he could not clearly identify the attackers, he noted that some of them were masked and armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
He appealed to the government to intensify efforts to rescue those still in captivity.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, said 17 of the abducted persons had been rescued through joint efforts by security agencies, local hunters and vigilantes.
“Our men received a distress call at about 11:45 p.m. and immediately mobilised to the scene. Working with local security groups, we were able to rescue 17 victims, while others, including the proprietor’s two wives and some children, are still missing,” he said.
The CP added that a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving the police, military, hunters and vigilante groups is ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims.
“As we speak, our teams are combing the surrounding forests. These criminals do not stay in one location, so we are intensifying surveillance and collaborating with nearby communities. We are confident that the remaining victims will be rescued and the perpetrators brought to justice,” he assured.
Kankarofi, however, raised concerns about the facility’s safety standards, noting that it was located in a highly isolated area with inadequate security infrastructure.
“The school is in a remote forested area with no access road, no perimeter fencing and inadequate structures. It is also not captured in our security framework, which made proactive surveillance difficult,” he said.
He advised individuals planning to establish such facilities to ensure proper registration and notify relevant authorities to enable adequate security arrangements.
The police commissioner also urged parents to be mindful of the safety conditions of schools and orphanages before enrolling their children.
“We assure the parents that we are doing everything possible to rescue the remaining victims. Providing a safe environment for all remains our responsibility,” he added.
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