The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a 12-year-old female student in the Challenge area of Ibadan. The victim, a Junior Secondary School 2 pupil at Monarch Model College, was reportedly kidnapped in the early hours of Thursday, February 12, while being dropped off at school. Police described the incident as a suspected kidnapping and assured the public that efforts are underway to secure her safe return.

Eyewitnesses reported that masked gunmen in an unmarked vehicle trailed the girl’s mother before ambushing them near the school junction. The attackers fired shots into the air to scare residents and punctured the mother’s car tyre. Despite resistance, the gunmen forcibly took the student and fled through the Challenge area.

The incident was immediately reported at Orita Challenge Police Station, where officers visited the scene and questioned eyewitnesses. DSP Olusola Olayinka Ayanlade, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the abduction and stated that detectives were deployed promptly to gather leads for the investigation.

Oyo State Police Commissioner, CP Femi Haruna, has ordered a full, intelligence-driven probe into the kidnapping. Authorities are working closely with the victim’s parents to ensure the child is rescued safely and that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.