‎Police launch manhunt after 12-year-old schoolgirl is kidnapped in Ibadan

‎Ibadan, Oyo State — Police in Oyo State have launched an intensive manhunt after a 12-year-old secondary school pupil was abducted by armed men on Thursday morning, February 12, 2026, in the Challenge area of Ibadan.
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‎The incident occurred at about 7:20 a.m. as the girl, a student of a private secondary school, was getting out of the vehicle that transported her to school. Eyewitnesses told authorities that a group of masked gunmen in a vehicle without registration plates reportedly trailed the child’s mother before opening fire into the air to scatter onlookers and snatching the pupil.
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‎In a statement, the Oyo State Police Command confirmed the suspected kidnapping and said detectives were immediately deployed to the scene for assessment and fact-finding. Officers have since identified and interviewed several witnesses whose accounts are aiding the investigation.
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‎The police also said the child’s parents have been contacted and remain in close communication with investigators as efforts to secure her safe return intensify.
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‎ The Commissioner of Police has directed a “comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation” into the case, assuring that “all possible options” are being explored to bring those responsible to justice.
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‎The command has appealed to the public to remain calm and provide any credible information that could assist the search, promising that tips will be handled confidentially.
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‎The abduction has prompted concern among residents, coming amid heightened awareness of security challenges affecting schoolchildren and communities in parts of Nigeria. Updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
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