Gunmen Kidnap 26 in Kogi Orphanage Raid, Demand N150M Ransom as Security Forces Launch Manhunt

A N150 million ransom has been requested for the release of children kidnapped from an orphanage and school in a rural part of Zariagi, in the Kabba Junction axis of Lokoja in the Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Armed men broke into the building late on Sunday night, kidnapping 26 people, including the owner’s two wives and 24 children.

Our correspondent was informed by Isah Hajarat, a teacher at the school, that the attack started at approximately 11:00 p.m., causing panic in the vicinity.

“Nine people are still in the abductors’ custody, but some of the children were able to flee during the attack,” she stated. “The owner has been contacted by the kidnappers, who are requesting a ransom of N150 million.”

Faruk Alhassan, one of the students who managed to flee, described the experience, saying that when the gunmen attacked the building, pandemonium broke out.

“We began yelling and fleeing for our lives as they arrived. They followed us into one of the rooms where some of us were hiding, and they attempted to kidnap my younger brother. We all broke down in tears,” he remarked.

Later, Faruk said, he ran into the jungle and called his father, who then notified security personnel.

He observed that several of the attackers were wearing masks and carrying cutlasses and other lethal weapons, even though he was unable to identify them with certainty.

He urged the administration to step up efforts to free individuals who were still being held captive.

CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, confirmed the occurrence and stated that security forces, local hunters, and vigilantes worked together to rescue 17 of the kidnapped individuals.

“At approximately 11:45 p.m., our men received a distress call and promptly mobilized to the scene.” We were able to save 17 people by working with neighborhood security organizations, but the proprietor’s two wives and a few children are still unaccounted for,” he stated.

In order to secure the release of the other victims, the CP stated that a coordinated search and rescue effort comprising the police, military, hunters, and vigilante groups is currently underway.

Our teams are currently searching the nearby forests. These thieves don’t remain in one place, 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 safety standards of the facility, noting that it was located in a highly isolated area without proper 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.

In order to enable appropriate security measures, he counseled anybody who intended to set up such facilities to make sure they were properly registered and to contact the appropriate authorities.

The police commissioner also advised parents to consider the safety of orphanages and schools before enrolling their kids.

“We reassure the parents that every effort is being made to save the remaining casualties. It is still our duty to provide a secure environment for everyone,” he continued.