A 12-year-old student of a private secondary school was abducted on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Eyewitnesses reported that the kidnappers, wearing masks, drove a car with no registration number plates, armed with a gun, firing shots sporadically to intimidate road users and passersby.
One of the eyewitnesses, 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.
Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident in a statement released in Ibadan, the state capital, on Thursday.
He said, “In response to your inquiry, the state Police command confirms an incident of suspected kidnapping reported in the Challenge area of Ibadan in the early hours of today, Thursday, February 12, 2026.
“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.
“The incident was promptly reported to the Police, and detectives were immediately deployed to the scene for preliminary assessment and fact-finding. Eyewitnesses at the scene were identified and questioned, and their accounts are providing valuable leads to assist ongoing investigations.”
The PPRO stated that the victim’s parents have been contacted and are working closely with the Police as efforts continue to secure the safe rescue of the child.
“The state Commissioner of Police has directed a comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation, assuring that all possibilities and options are being explored to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring those responsible to justice.”
He urged the public to remain calm and to assist the Police with any valuable information, assuring that such information will be treated with strict confidentiality.
“Further updates will be provided as appropriate,” the PPRO assured.
