LOKOJA, KOGI STATE — By Prime Brief Media
Security forces in Kogi State have rescued 17 pupils following a late-night abduction at Daarul Kitab Islamic School and Orphanage, while nine victims comprising seven pupils and the two wives of the proprietor remain in captivity, authorities confirmed on Monday. However, conflicting accounts have emerged between the official police narrative and the school proprietor regarding the circumstances of the children's return.
According to the Kogi State Police Command, gunmen invaded the school located in the Zariagi area of Lokoja along NNPC Road, Kabba Junction, at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2026. The attackers initially abducted 26 persons, 24 pupils and the two wives of proprietor Mallam Mohammed Tanko Tajudeen.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of 'B' Division, Lokoja, promptly mobilised a joint team of security operatives, including police, military personnel, and other agencies. The combined force conducted coordinated rescue operations, leading to the safe return of 17 pupils.
"Rescue operations are ongoing by joint security operatives with concerted efforts being intensified to secure the safe release of the remaining nine victims, consisting of seven pupils and the two wives of the proprietor," Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer ASP Saliu Afusat said in a statement issued on Sunday.
Ransom Demand and Conflicting Accounts
The kidnappers have reportedly demanded N150 million for the release of the remaining captives, according to the proprietor and multiple news sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations.
However, a significant discrepancy has emerged regarding how the 17 children regained their freedom. The proprietor of Daarul-Kitab Islamic Training Centre, Dr. Tajudeen Mohammed Salihu, told reporters that the children who returned were not rescued by security forces but fled into the bush and found their way back independently.
"Those who are available now ran away when the kidnappers came; they were not rescued, but they escaped. They hid inside the bush," Salihu stated. He explained that he was in Abuja at the time of the attack and immediately alerted security agencies after receiving a distress call from one of the children. However, the attackers had already fled with the victims before authorities arrived.
The proprietor's account raises questions about the official police narrative of a coordinated tactical rescue operation. Prime Brief Media has reached out to the Kogi State Police Command for clarification on the discrepancy but had not received a response at the time of this report.
Government Response
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, has visited the scene of the abduction and ordered the deployment of additional tactical teams for bush combing, intelligence gathering, and surveillance operations aimed at rescuing the remaining victims and apprehending the perpetrators.
The Kogi State Government condemned the attack, describing it as "unfortunate and avoidable." In a strongly worded statement, Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo revealed that the school was operating illegally in a remote location without proper registration.
"The facility was operating illegally in a remote, bushy environment without registration with the state government and without the knowledge of relevant authorities and security agencies," Fanwo stated. The government has warned operators of schools and orphanages against establishing facilities in isolated locations without proper authorisation, citing heightened security risks.
Background
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of the time of this report. Security analysts note that the Zariagi area and surrounding communities in Lokoja are known to host violent actors, including criminal bandits and members of Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram that has been linked to previous abductions in the North-Central region.
Kidnapping for ransom remains a major security challenge across parts of Nigeria, with schools, religious institutions, and rural communities increasingly targeted due to their vulnerability. The attack on Daarul Kitab School is the latest in a string of mass abductions that have revived painful memories of previous school kidnappings in the country.
Prime Brief Media will continue to monitor rescue operations and provide updates as more information becomes available. We note the discrepancy between police accounts of a "rescue operation" and the proprietor's statement that the 17 recovered children escaped on their own. Both versions are presented for completeness pending further verification.
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