A 12-year-old student of a private secondary school was, on Thursday, kidnapped in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online that the kidnappers, who were masked, drove a car without registration number plates, armed with a gun, shooting sporadically to scare roadusers 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.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed this 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 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.”
The command, therefore, urged members of the public to remain calm and to support the Police with any useful information, assuring that such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
“Further updates will be provided as appropriate,” the PPRO assured.
PUNCH Online reports that a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Wale Oriade, was kidnapped on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, around 7:06 pm at his office located at PJ Square Shopping Complex, beside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited station, Elewure, along Iyana Ajanla, Akala Expressway, New Garage, Ibadan.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in a blue Nissan Micra vehicle with two occupants—a driver and an armed man—who forcibly seized Oriade and whisked him away in the same vehicle.
“The nature of the attack and the precision with which it was carried out have caused deep concern within his community,” an eyewitness said.
He regained his freedom on January 10, 2026, after 39 days in captivity.
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