Story perspectives

Nigeria Police Rescue 15 Kidnapped Students, Wife; 8 Missing

4/27/2026

Summary

Police Rescues

The Nigeria Police Force rescued 15 of the 23 pupils and the proprietor’s wife abducted from Dahallukitab Group of Schools in Lokoja on April 26.
Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said the school lacked registration in Zariagi.
Fanwo praised police operatives for gallantry and professionalism during the rescue.
The Kogi State Government warned that unregistered orphanages pose security risks, pledged to protect lives, and said rescue operations continue for the eight missing victims.

Summary

Gunmen Raid

Unidentified gunmen raided an illegal, remote orphanage in north-central Nigeria.
Analysts say armed gangs target schools and pupils to attract media attention and pressure authorities.
Kidnappings for ransom have risen sharply in the region, reflecting a broader trend.
Security experts link the surge to Boko Haram, its ISWAP offshoot, and the IS-linked Lakurawa faction near the Niger border, underscoring a decade-long security crisis in north-central and northwestern zones.

History

Historical Context

The 276 girls seized by Boko Haram on 14-15 April 2014 in Chibok triggered a security overhaul that deployed thousands of troops and a ?10 billion counter-insurgency fund. Later kidnappings—including 110 girls in Dapchi (Feb 2018) and UNICEF’s report of over 1,000 children abducted since 2013—show the group’s focus on unregistered schools. Police chief Kingsley Fanwo rescued 15 pupils from an illegal orphanage in Lokoja.

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Police Rescues

The Nigeria Police Force rescued 15 of the 23 pupils and the proprietor’s wife abducted from Dahallukitab Group of Schools in Lokoja on April 26.
Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said the school lacked registration in Zariagi.
Fanwo praised police operatives for gallantry and professionalism during the rescue.
The Kogi State Government warned that unregistered orphanages pose security risks, pledged to protect lives, and said rescue operations continue for the eight missing victims.

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