Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Kogi State have rescued 17 pupils abducted from an Islamic school in Lokoja, as security agencies intensify efforts to free the remaining victims.
The incident occurred late on April 26, around 11:45 p.m., when armed men stormed Daarul Kitab School, an Islamic institution with an attached orphanage in Zariagi along NNPC Road, Kabba Junction, and whisked away several occupants.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Afusat, a total of 26 persons—24 pupils and two wives of the school’s proprietor—were initially taken. She noted that a joint security team mobilised by the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B’ Division in Lokoja led to the successful rescue of 17 victims.
Afusat added that operations are ongoing, involving the police, military and other security agencies, to secure the release of the remaining nine victims.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Naziru Kankarofi, has visited the scene and ordered the deployment of tactical teams for bush combing, intelligence gathering and surveillance in the area.
The police command reassured residents of its commitment to rescuing the remaining victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice, urging the public to provide useful information to aid the operation.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government condemned the attack, describing it as unfortunate and preventable. The Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the swift response of security operatives led to the rescue of some victims, while efforts continue to secure the others.
Fanwo, however, expressed concern that the school was allegedly operating in a remote area without proper registration or notification to relevant authorities. He warned that unregistered schools and orphanages in isolated locations pose significant security risks and urged operators to comply with government regulations.
Kidnapping for ransom remains a persistent security challenge in parts of Nigeria, with schools, religious centres and rural communities increasingly targeted due to their vulnerability.
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