Nigerian Army Rescues 7 Children and 2 Women After Orphanage Kidnapping in Kogi State

Nigerian troops have rescued seven children and two women kidnapped from an orphanage in Kogi State. The victims were freed after search-and-rescue operations following the April abduction, with authorities continuing investigations into the case.

Nigerian troops have successfully rescued seven children and two adult women who remained in captivity after a mass kidnapping at an orphanage in Kogi State, following sustained military search-and-rescue operations, according to the Nigerian Army.
The incident dates back to late April when armed gunmen stormed an unregistered orphanage located in a remote part of central Kogi State. During the attack, the assailants abducted 23 children along with several adults, triggering a major security response across the region. Shortly after the incident, security forces managed to secure the release of most of the kidnapped children through pressure operations and tracking efforts. However, seven children and two adult women remained unaccounted for, prompting continued military pursuit of the kidnappers.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Nigerian Army confirmed that its troops had successfully located and freed the remaining victims after what it described as “sustained search and rescue efforts.” The rescued individuals include five boys, two girls, and two adult females, who are believed to be the wives of the proprietor of the orphanage. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether arrests were made during the operation or whether the kidnappers are still at large.
Security officials in Kogi State have since raised concerns about the legitimacy of the facility where the kidnapping occurred. The state’s information commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, stated earlier that the orphanage was operating illegally in a secluded, forested area without proper registration or oversight from relevant government authorities or security agencies. This lack of regulation, officials suggest, may have contributed to the vulnerability of the children and staff.
The rescue comes against the backdrop of ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom remains one of the most persistent threats to civilians. Criminal gangs, often referred to locally as “bandits,” operate across several regions, particularly in rural and forested areas where state presence is limited. In addition to kidnapping networks, the country also faces violence linked to extremist groups and long-standing farmer-herder conflicts.
The north-central region, including Kogi State, has witnessed a series of violent incidents in recent months, including attacks on schools, villages, and transportation routes. Some of these attacks have been attributed to armed criminal groups, while others are believed to have links to extremist organisations such as Boko Haram operating further north.
One of the most alarming trends in recent years has been the repeated targeting of educational institutions. In neighbouring Niger State, hundreds of schoolchildren were abducted in a major attack in November, an incident widely blamed on Boko Haram militants. Such mass kidnappings have raised serious concerns about the safety of children and the ability of security forces to prevent large-scale abductions.
Authorities continue to intensify counter-kidnapping operations, combining military raids, intelligence tracking, and community surveillance efforts. However, the persistence of these attacks highlights the complexity of Nigeria’s security landscape, where multiple armed groups operate simultaneously across vast and difficult terrain.
The latest rescue operation has been welcomed as a positive development, but officials say investigations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible and to prevent further attacks on vulnerable communities and institutions.