ABUJA, Nigeria — Armed men stormed a children’s facility in Nigeria’s north-central region and kidnapped 23 students, with officials confirming Monday that 15 have been successfully recovered.
The incident occurred in a remote section of Lokoja, the capital city of Kogi State, state commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo confirmed in an official statement. He noted that the targeted institution, Dahallukitab Group of Schools, was functioning without proper authorization.
While no organization has taken credit for the assault, the area has experienced a surge in ransom-driven abductions in recent months.
Officials did not specify the ages of the kidnapped children, though in Nigeria the designation “pupil” typically applies to elementary and kindergarten students, generally those 12 years old and younger.
“Intensive operations are ongoing to secure the safe return of the remaining eight victims and apprehend the perpetrators,” Fanwo said.
School-based abductions have become a defining characteristic of safety concerns across Africa’s largest country by population. Security experts note that criminal organizations view educational institutions and their students as “strategic” targets for maximum public impact.
The West African nation faces widespread security challenges, particularly across northern territories where militant activity has persisted for over ten years.
Key Islamic extremist organizations include Boko Haram along with its splinter group ISWAP. Additionally, the Islamic State-affiliated Lakurawa organization operates in northwestern border communities adjacent to Niger.
