Ojochenemi Onje
The Kogi State Government has confirmed the safe rescue of all victims abducted from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage in Lokoja following a coordinated security operation led by the Nigerian Army.
The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lokoja by Kingsley Fanwo, the state commissioner for information and communications, who described the development as a major victory against criminal elements operating in the state.
Gunmen had attacked the orphanage on April 26, abducting 23 persons, including pupils and the wife of the orphanage proprietor, in an incident that sparked widespread concern across the state.
The government had earlier announced the rescue of 15 victims on April 27 after intensified search-and-rescue operations by security agencies.
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According to the statement, the remaining nine victims were freed during a fresh operation carried out in the early hours of Wednesday.
It disclosed that troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army spearheaded the operation with support from other security agencies, leading to the successful rescue of the victims in the Agbaja Forest area of Lokoja Local Government Area.
“The operation, carried out in the Agbaja Forest axis of Lokoja Local Government Area, resulted in the safe recovery of five boys, two girls, and two adult females,” Fanwo stated.
It added that all rescued victims had been evacuated to a military medical facility where they were receiving medical attention and psychological care following the traumatic experience.
The statement described the outcome of the operation as a major breakthrough in the state’s fight against kidnapping and violent crimes, noting that it brought relief to families and residents who had anxiously awaited the victims’ return.
