Residents were thrown into panic after armed gunmen stormed an orphanage and abducted several children in a shocking attack on Sunday, 26 April 2026, in a remote village in Kogi State North-Central Nigeria, located within a bushy rural community whose exact name has not yet been officially disclosed by authorities.
The incident occurred at an unregistered orphanage, where attackers overpowered the facility and kidnapped 23 children, along with the owner of the orphanage.
Kogi State’s Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed the development, stating that security operatives responded swiftly to the distress call.
Their intervention led to the rescue of 15 of the abducted children, while efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining victims.
Fanwo disclosed that the orphanage was operating illegally and was unknown to the relevant government authorities.
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He warned that such unregulated facilities pose serious risks, especially in the current security climate, and urged operators to comply with official registration and safety guidelines.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, security sources have raised concerns about the presence of criminal gangs and possible extremist elements, including factions linked to Boko Haram, operating within the region.
The attack highlights Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping crisis, where armed groups frequently target vulnerable communities for ransom.
While the government has outlawed ransom payments, the wave of abductions continues across several states.
This latest incident is particularly disturbing, as it marks a rare case of an orphanage being targeted, underscoring the deepening insecurity in parts of central Nigeria.
Authorities have assured the public that efforts are being intensified to rescue the remaining children and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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