Masked terrorists abducted a 12-year-old schoolgirl in Ibadan’s Challenge area Thursday morning, triggering a swift police manhunt.
The brazen attack unfolded around 7:20 a.m. on February 12, 2026, as the young student alighted from a vehicle near her private secondary school.
Eyewitnesses recounted how the masked assailants, driving an unregistered car, fired shots into the air to scatter passersby and pursued the girl’s mother before seizing the resisting child and speeding away through the bustling Challenge district.
One observer vividly described the chaos: “The terrorists were masked and drove a car with no number plates. They pursued the girl’s mother and abducted her.
Though the girl resisted, they drove off through the Challenge area of Ibadan.”
In response, the Oyo State Police Command sprang into action, deploying detectives to the scene for an immediate assessment.
Officers questioned eyewitnesses, who provided crucial leads, and contacted the victim’s distraught parents to maintain close coordination.
Police Public Relations Officer Olayinka Ayanlade confirmed the incident in a statement, emphasizing that “the Commissioner of Police has directed a comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Authorities urged residents to share any information confidentially while assuring the public of their commitment to a safe rescue.
Meanwhile, this abduction highlights Nigeria’s escalating security crisis, particularly in urban areas like Ibadan.
Reports indicate that terrorists and criminal groups carried out over 3,000 kidnappings nationwide between January 2024 and April 2025 alone, claiming thousands of lives and fueling widespread fear.
In Oyo State, similar incidents have surged, with police records showing at least 15 comparable cases in 2025, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced measures against such threats.
Furthermore, social media erupted with outrage following the news. One X user lamented, “This is becoming something else,” echoing the growing public frustration over child-targeted crimes in the region.
As investigations continue, communities in Ibadan remain on high alert, hoping for the girl’s swift and safe return.
