A gang of bandits has kidnapped a 12-year-old student following an attack in a community in Oyo State.
The gunmen, who were on mask during the incident, made way into the area in a car with no plate registration number shooting sporadically to scare the residents and thereafter kidnapped the minor, a pupil of a private secondary school in Ibadan.
One of the eyewitnesses on anonymity said that the assailants entered into the community as early as 7:20 am on Thursday, and chased the girl and escaped through the Challenge area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident, saying “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,” Ayanlade said.
The police spokesperson uttered that detectives were immediately deployed to the scene for preliminary assessment and fact-finding after which eyewitnesses at the scene were identified and questioned, and their accounts are providing valuable leads to assist ongoing investigations.
The PPRO explained that the parents of the victim have been contacted and are in close contact with the Police as efforts continue to ensure 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” Ayanlade added.
He urged inhabitants in the area to remain calm and support the Police with any useful information, assuring that such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality and assured that further updates will be provided as appropriate.
