12-Year-Old Schoolgirl Abducted in Ibadan as Gunmen Strike Along School Route

Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have launched a manhunt for armed men who abducted a 12-year-old secondary school student in the Challenge area of Ibadan on Thursday morning.

The victim, a pupil of a private secondary school, was seized around 7:20 a.m. while alighting from a vehicle that had conveyed her to school. Eyewitnesses reported that the kidnappers—masked and armed—drove a car without registration plates and fired sporadic shots to disperse road users before fleeing toward the Challenge area with their captive.

Police Confirm Rescue Operation Underway

In a statement issued Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident and assured the public that investigative efforts were already in motion.

"Preliminary information indicates that at about 7:20 a.m., a 12-year-old female student of a private secondary school in the area was allegedly abducted by unknown armed men at a junction leading to the school premises," Ayanlade said.

He noted that detectives were immediately deployed to the scene for assessment and fact-finding. Eyewitness accounts are currently providing "valuable leads" to assist ongoing investigations.

The Commissioner of Police has directed a "comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation," vowing that all options are being explored to ensure the safe rescue of the child and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Parents Contacted, Public Urged to Assist

According to the command, the victim's parents have been contacted and are maintaining close communication with investigators.

The police appealed to members of the public to volunteer any useful information, assuring that all intelligence provided would be treated with the "utmost confidentiality."

Ibadan's Growing Insecurity Challenge

Thursday's abduction is the latest in a string of kidnappings targeting Ibadan residents. In December 2025, APC chieftain Wale Oriade was seized from his office at PJ Square Shopping Complex along Akala Expressway. He spent 39 days in captivity before regaining freedom in January 2026.

The recurrence of such incidents—particularly the abduction of a minor in broad daylight—has reignited concerns about security within Oyo State's capital. Community leaders have repeatedly called for enhanced surveillance along school routes and commercial corridors.

Police have assured that further updates on the investigation and rescue efforts will be communicated as events unfold.