The Nigeria Police Force in Oyo State has begun a manhunt for suspects involved in the abduction of a 12-year-old student of a private secondary school in Ibadan.
The incident happened on Thursday morning at about 7:20 a.m. in the Challenge area of the Oyo State capital as the pupil stepped out of the vehicle that conveyed her to school.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state confirmed the development in an official statement. He said the command received information about the suspected kidnapping early Thursday. Detectives were immediately drafted to the scene for assessment and investigation.
“Preliminary information indicates that a 12-year-old female student of a private secondary school was allegedly abducted by unknown armed men at a junction leading to the school premises,” the police spokesperson said.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers wore masks and arrived in a vehicle without number plates. They were reportedly armed with a double-barrelled gun. They fired shots into the air to frighten passers-by before taking the girl away.
One eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, said the gunmen chased the victim’s mother and forcefully seized the child despite her resistance. The suspects later fled through the Challenge axis of Ibadan.
Police authorities disclosed that witnesses had been identified and questioned. Their statements are assisting ongoing investigations. The command also said it has established contact with the victim’s parents as efforts continue to secure the girl’s rescue.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed a comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation, assuring that all possible options are being explored to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring those responsible to justice,” the statement said.
The police urged residents to remain calm and provide useful information that could aid the investigation. They assured that any information supplied would be treated confidentially.
Meanwhile, reports recall that an Oyo State chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Wale Oriade, was abducted in Ibadan on December 3, 2025. He later regained freedom after spending 39 days in captivity.
