By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a 12-year-old female student of Monarch Model College, who was kidnapped by suspected armed men around 7:20 a.m. on Thursday at a junction near her school in the Challenge area of Ibadan. The incident occurred as she was being dropped off by her mother, prompting an immediate police response and the launch of an intensive investigation to secure her safe rescue.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants, described as masked men in an unmarked vehicle, allegedly trailed the victim’s mother before striking near the school premises. The attackers reportedly fired gunshots into the air to scare away residents and punctured the tyre of the mother’s Toyota RAV4 with Lagos registration number KRD 350 GP.
Despite efforts to resist the attack, the Junior Secondary School 2 pupil was forcibly taken away. The gunmen fled the scene through the Challenge area, leaving residents in panic.
The incident was promptly reported at the Orita Challenge Police Station. Officers visited the scene alongside the victim’s mother for an initial assessment and commenced investigations.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, DSP Olusola Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that preliminary findings showed the student was abducted while alighting from the vehicle that conveyed her to school.
Detectives have since been deployed to gather intelligence and question eyewitnesses, while the victim’s parents are cooperating closely with law enforcement authorities.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, has directed a comprehensive, intelligence-led operation aimed at rescuing the child unharmed and apprehending those responsible. The command urged members of the public to remain calm and share credible information, assuring that all tips will be handled with strict confidentiality. Further updates will be communicated as investigations continue.
source:vangard
