Gunmen stormed an unregistered orphanage in Nigeria’s north-central Kogi state, abducting 23 children and the facility’s owner, authorities said, as security forces launched an operation to locate those still missing.
Kogi State Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said 15 of the children had been rescued following what he described as a “prompt and coordinated response” by security agencies. Eight children remain unaccounted for.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, security sources cited by local officials say the area has a known presence of a Boko Haram cell and has witnessed repeated violent incidents in recent months.
Fanwo said the orphanage had been operating illegally in a remote, bushy area without proper registration or oversight, raising concerns about regulatory gaps amid a worsening security environment.
“The government remains fully committed to ensuring the rescue of all the victims,” he said, urging operators of orphanages, schools and similar institutions to comply with registration requirements and coordinate with authorities.
Nigeria continues to face a widespread kidnapping crisis, particularly in its northern and central regions, where armed gangs frequently abduct civilians for ransom. Although the government has criminalised ransom payments, the policy has done little to deter the practice.
Mass abductions have increasingly targeted schools, but attacks on orphanages are rare.
In November 2025, more than 300 students and teachers were abducted from a Catholic secondary school in neighbouring Niger state. The victims were released in stages over several weeks, with authorities denying that any ransom was paid or that detained militants were freed as part of the deal.