Eight children still missing after gunmen raid Nigerian orphanage, 15 rescued

Eight children remain missing following an attack by gunmen on an unregistered orphanage in Nigeria’s north-central Kogi State, where 23 children were initially kidnapped. According to Kogi’s information commissioner Kingsley Fanwo, 15 children were rescued due to a “prompt and coordinated response” from security agencies. The owner of the facility was also taken during Sunday’s attack. No group has claimed responsibility, but security sources indicate a functional Boko Haram cell in the state and a history of violent attacks in the area. Nigeria is experiencing a widespread kidnapping crisis, with criminal gangs abducting individuals for ransom, despite a government ban on such payments. Fanwo stated the government is committed to rescuing all victims and highlighted that the orphanage operated “illegally” in a “bushy environment” without official knowledge. He urged institutions like orphanages and schools to engage with government agencies, especially given the current security situation. While mass kidnappings in schools are common in Nigeria’s northern region, this marks the first time an orphanage has been targeted. In November 2025, over 300 students and teachers were abducted from a Catholic Secondary School in Niger State and later released, with the government denying ransom payments or the release of Boko Haram commanders.