The Nigerian Army has announced the rescue of seven children and two adults who were abducted during a raid on an orphanage in Kogi State last month.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the army said troops successfully secured the release of the remaining victims after what it described as sustained search-and-rescue operations.
According to the military, the rescued victims include five boys, two girls and two adult women believed to be wives of the orphanage proprietor.
Gunmen had stormed the orphanage in late April, abducting 23 children and several adults from the facility located in a remote part of the state. While most of the children were rescued shortly after the incident, seven remained in captivity until the latest operation.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, had earlier disclosed that the orphanage was operating illegally and was not registered with the state government.
According to him, the facility was situated in a remote bush area and was unknown to relevant authorities and security agencies before the attack.
Kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities where security presence is limited. Armed gangs and militant groups frequently target schools, villages and vulnerable institutions in search of quick financial gains.
Nigeria continues to grapple with multiple security challenges, including insurgency by jihadist groups, armed banditry, farmer-herder clashes and separatist violence in parts of the country.
The North-Central region, where Kogi State is located, has witnessed several violent attacks in recent months, including assaults on schools and communities.
In November last year, hundreds of schoolchildren were abducted in neighbouring Niger State in an attack security sources linked to the jihadist group Boko Haram.
