All 23 pupils abducted from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic orphanage in Lokoja have been rescued, the Kogi State government confirmed on Wednesday.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the remaining nine victims were freed in the early hours of Wednesday following a coordinated operation by security forces.
Gunmen had attacked the orphanage on April 26, abducting the pupils along with the proprietor’s wife. Fifteen of the victims were rescued two days later on April 27 as security operations intensified.
Fanwo described the latest rescue as “a major breakthrough against criminal elements” and a huge relief for the affected families. He credited troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, supported by other security agencies, for carrying out the operation in the Agbaja forest area of Lokoja LGA.
“The operation resulted in the safe recovery of five boys, two girls, and two adult females,” he said. “The rescued victims have been evacuated to a military medical facility, where they are receiving proper medical care and attention.”
Governor Usman Ododo commended the army and other security agencies for their professionalism and bravery, and praised the resilience of the victims and their families.
“The safety and security of all residents remain the foremost priority of our administration,” Ododo said. “This successful operation underscores our determination to ensure that criminal elements have no foothold in Kogi.”
The governor reaffirmed the state’s zero-tolerance stance on kidnapping and violent crime, pledging to strengthen security architecture, improve intelligence gathering, and support security agencies. He also urged residents to remain vigilant and share timely information with security forces while assuring that efforts are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.
