In a brazen attack in Nigeria's north-central Kogi State, gunmen raided an unregistered orphanage on Sunday, kidnapping 23 children and the facility's owner, authorities said. While 15 children have been rescued, eight remain missing.
Kogi State Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the rescue operation, attributing it to a "prompt and coordinated response" by security agencies. He noted that the orphanage was operating illegally in a remote, bushy area without the knowledge of relevant authorities.
No group has claimed responsibility, but security sources indicate the presence of a functional Boko Haram cell in the state, alongside a rise in violent attacks. Nigeria is also grappling with a widespread kidnapping crisis, with criminal gangs abducting individuals for ransom despite a government ban on ransom payments.
Fanwo assured the public that "the government remains fully committed to ensuring the rescue of all the victims." He urged operators of orphanages, schools, and similar institutions to register with appropriate agencies, especially given the current security climate.
This incident marks the first known targeting of an orphanage in Nigeria, though mass school abductions are common in the northern region. In November 2025, over 300 students and teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic secondary school in nearby Niger State; they were freed in batches over more than a month. The government denied paying any ransom in that case.