23 students kidnapped from an orphanage by gunmen in Nigeria
Nigerian schoolchildren kidnapped
Written by: Ayman Ragab
Gunmen stormed an orphanage in north-central Nigeria and kidnapped 23 students, according to the country's authorities.
8 abductees rescued
The house is located in an "isolated area" in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. However, 15 of them were later rescued, while 8 remain hostages. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
State Commissioner Kingsley Femi Vanua said the orphanage, which belongs to the Dahlukitap Schools group, was operating illegally.
According to the Associated Press, the identity of the gunmen remains unknown.
Intensive search operations
The abductees are often in kindergarten or primary school.
According to Fanua: Upon receiving the report, the security services, led by the Nigerian Kogi State Police, and in cooperation with other security agencies, rushed to the scene of the incident. This rapid and coordinated action resulted in the rescue of 15 of the kidnapped students.
He added that intensive operations are continuing to ensure the safe return of the remaining eight and the arrest of the perpetrators.
