Armed men abducted 23 children from an orphanage in Kogi State, in south-central Nigeria; about 15 have been rescued and eight remain missing, authorities said Monday.

Nigeria is regularly hit by mass kidnappings, usually committed by criminal gangs seeking ransoms, targeting vulnerable populations in insecure rural areas.

The children were abducted from an orphanage called Dahallukitab School Group, located in a remote area of the state capital, Lokoja, late Sunday night into Monday, Kogi State Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said in a statement.

He specified that a "rapid and coordinated response" from the security forces had made it possible to save 15 children.

The wife of the orphanage manager was also abducted, according to the statement.

"Intensive operations are underway to secure the release of the eight remaining victims and to apprehend the perpetrators," he added.

Kingsley Fanwo did not immediately respond to questions regarding the children's ages.

According to him, the orphanage "was operating illegally in a remote and wooded environment, without being registered with the state government or with the knowledge of the relevant authorities and security services."

Nigeria faces multiple conflicts, ranging from a long-standing jihadist insurgency and criminal gangs to violence between farmers and herders, as well as separatist movements.

The center of the country, where Kogi State is located, has recently been the scene of several violent attacks against schools, some attributed to jihadist groups.

In November, hundreds of schoolchildren were abducted by armed men from a school in the neighboring state of Niger, an attack attributed by security sources to Boko Haram.

AFP