Kidnappers Abduct 12-Year-Old Girl in Ibadan

A 12-year-old girl attending a private secondary school was abducted in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on Thursday morning.

Witnesses stated that the kidnappers, who were wearing masks, arrived in a vehicle lacking registration plates and discharged gunfire into the air to intimidate nearby individuals during the abduction.

An anonymous eyewitness recounted that the incident took place at approximately 7:20 a.m., indicating that the culprits pursued the girl's mother and forcefully took her away despite the girl's resistance, fleeing through the Challenge area of Ibadan.

The incident has been confirmed by Olayinka Ayanlade, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, who noted that the police received notifications of a suspected kidnapping around the same time.

Ayanlade explained that the initial reports suggest that the girl was forcibly taken by unidentified armed men at a junction close to her school as she was getting out of a vehicle that had dropped her off.

"The event was quickly reported to law enforcement, leading to the swift deployment of detectives to assess the scene and gather information," he stated.

He mentioned that authorities have identified and interrogated eyewitnesses, who are helping provide insights for the current investigations.

Additionally, the police have informed the victim's parents and are maintaining regular contact to ensure the girl's safe recovery is prioritized.

The Commissioner of Police has instructed a thorough, intelligence-based investigation to clarify the details surrounding the crime and ensure the culprits face justice.

Police have also called on the public to remain calm and provide any pertinent information, promising that such details will be handled with confidentiality.