Gunmen have kidnapped a 12-year-old student of a private secondary school in Ibadan, Oyo State, in an early morning attack on Thursday.
Eyewitnesses told The PUNCH that the kidnappers, masked and driving a car without registration number plates, shot sporadically to scare road users before abducting the girl.
One eyewitness who preferred not to be named said, “The incident happened around 7:20 am. The kidnappers were masked and drove a car with no number plates. They pursued the girl’s mother. They abducted her and drove her off. Though the girl resisted. They escaped through the Challenge area of Ibadan.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident in a statement.
“Preliminary information indicates that at about 7:20 am, 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 as she was alighting from a vehicle that conveyed her to school,” Ayanlade said.
He stated that detectives were immediately deployed to the scene and eyewitnesses were identified and questioned. The parents of the victim have been contacted and are working closely with the police.
The Commissioner of Police has directed a comprehensive, intelligence-driven investigation and assured that all possibilities are being explored to rescue the child and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The command urged members of the public to remain calm and provide any useful information, assuring confidentiality.
This incident follows the kidnapping of APC chieftain Wale Oriade in Ibadan in December 2025, who was released after 39 days in captivity.
