ABUJA, Nigeria — Military forces in Nigeria have successfully freed nine individuals who were kidnapped during an armed assault on an orphanage facility last month, according to a Thursday announcement from army officials.
Officials in Nigeria’s Kogi state reported that armed attackers targeted an unlicensed Islamic orphanage and seized 23 students in a remote section of Lokoja, the state’s capital city, on April 26. Military personnel were able to immediately free 15 of the kidnapped victims.
The remaining nine hostages were located and recovered by troops operating in a forested region of the state, according to army spokesperson Hassan Abdullahi, who issued the statement on Wednesday with public release on Thursday.
“The rescued victims comprised five boys, two girls, and two adult females, believed to be the wives of the proprietor of the orphanage,” Abdullahi said.
Based on these numbers, it appears one additional student may still be missing, though the military statement did not address whether anyone remains unaccounted for.
No organization has stepped forward to take credit for the kidnapping operation. Security experts note that militant groups frequently target educational facilities and capture students because these attacks generate significant public attention and can result in substantial ransom payments. Hundreds of students have fallen victim to abduction incidents throughout Nigeria.
