Nigerian Police rescue 17, out of 23 abducted pupils from Kogi orphanage

Kogi State Police Command confirms rescue of 17 students after gunmen raid on orphanage and school in Zariagi, Lokoja.

This was revealed in a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Saliu Afusat, on Monday. In the statement, Afusat stated that the incident took place about 11:45 p.m. at Daarul Kitab School, a Muslim-owned private school with an orphanage on the compound.

According to the press statement, some criminals raided the premises and abducted 26 people comprising 24 students and two wives of the proprietor before taking them to an undisclosed location.

Afast said that “when the Command got the information, the DPO of ‘B’ Division, Lokoja, promptly assembled a team of security operatives to proceed to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.”

“The security operatives quickly devised strategies and embarked on search operation. As a result of the effort of the security operatives, seventeen (17) of the kidnapped students have been rescued,” the statement says

“Rescue operations are ongoing by joint security operatives comprising the Police, Military, and other security agencies, with concerted efforts being intensified to secure the safe release of the remaining nine (9) victims, consisting of seven (7) pupils and the two (2) wives of the proprietor.”

Afusat added that Naziru Bello Kankarofi, the Kogi state commissioner of police, has visited the scene and ordered the deployment of tactical teams to strengthen bush-combing, intelligence gathering, and surveillance operations aimed at rescuing the remaining victims and apprehending the perpetrators.

“The Command assures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims. Members of the public are urged to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid the ongoing operation,” the statement added.

The police also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements through the command’s control room numbers: 0703 832 9084 and 0815 219 5982.