In a brazen attack, gunmen have kidnapped 23 children from an orphanage in Nigeria, highlighting the persistent threat of mass abductions for ransom in the country. The incident underscores the vulnerability of even the most vulnerable members of society to such crimes.
Mass kidnappings are a common way for gangs and armed groups to make quick money in Nigeria.
The children were taken during a raid on the facility, with the assailants overwhelming security and fleeing with their captives. Local authorities are investigating the attack and have launched a search for the missing children. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
The kidnapping has sparked outrage and fear among residents, who worry that no one is safe from the scourge of abduction for profit. This event adds to a long list of similar incidents in Nigeria, where criminal gangs often target schools, villages, and now orphanages to secure ransoms.