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Gunmen raid Nigerian orphanage in Kogi State; 23 kidnapped, 15 rescued; owner abducted
Gunmen raided an unregistered orphanage in Kogi State, Nigeria, kidnapping 23 people and abducting the facility's owner. Security forces rescued 15 children, with eight still missing. The orphanage reportedly operated illegally, prompting calls for oversight amid wider insecurity and kidnapping in the region.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights ongoing kidnap risks in Nigeria and the challenges of regulating charitable facilities amid security threats.
Timeline
3 Events
April 27, 2026: Officials provide update on rescue efforts and orphanage status
April 27, 2026
Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo announced that 15 children had been rescued due to the prompt and coordinated response of security agencies. He said the orphanage was operating illegally in a bushy environment and urged operators to engage with government authorities. He also noted that the owner had been taken and that there is a Boko Haram cell in the state, though no group claimed responsibility.
April 26, 2026: Gunmen raid unregistered orphanage in Kogi State
April 26, 2026
Gunmen raided an unregistered orphanage in Nigeria's north-central Kogi State, abducting 23 people (mostly children) and taking the facility's owner. Authorities said 15 children were rescued following a prompt security response, while eight children remained missing.
November 2025: Abduction at a Catholic school in Niger State (context for regional security issues)
November 2025
In November 2025, more than 300 students and their teachers were abducted from a Catholic Secondary School in Niger State, also in Nigeria's north-central region. They were released in two batches, with the last group freed more than one month later. The government denied reports that any ransom had been paid, or that two Boko Haram commanders had been freed as part of the deal.