India, April 28 -- Gunmen raided an orphanage in a community in north-central Nigeria and abducted 23 pupils, the authorities said on Monday.

Fifteen have since been rescued but eight remain captive.

The attack took place in an "isolated area" of Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, according to a statement by the state's commissioner, Kingsley Femi Fanwo.

The facility, Dahallukitab Group of Schools, was operating illegally, he said.

The identities of the gunmen are unknown. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The statement did not say how old the abducted schoolchildren are but the term pupil' in Nigeria usually refers to someone in kindergarten or primary school, typically covering ages up to 12.

The north-cen...