There was commotion yesterday afternoon in Benin City following an attempted abduction of a schoolgirl, Miss Oghosa Alohan of Cherryville Academy, outside her school premises. The incident, which occurred around 3:30 p.m., was swiftly thwarted by commercial motorcyclists (popularly known as Okada riders) stationed near the school gate.
Eyewitnesses reported that the young girl had just exited the school grounds when a group of individuals forcibly attempted to push her into a black Toyota Camry. Her cries for help and visible struggle drew the attention of nearby students and Okada riders waiting to transport pupils home.
One of the riders, Mr. Raheem Ajibola, who witnessed the incident, recounted the ordeal:
“I was by the gate waiting for passengers when I heard shouting, ‘They’ve kidnapped her!’ I turned and saw a young girl struggling inside a car, biting one of the men trying to force her in. I shouted, and other Okada riders joined me. We chased the vehicle and alerted the street gate security, who quickly shut the gate, preventing their escape. That gate saved her.”
Thanks to the swift response by the riders and local security personnel, the suspects were apprehended and held until police officers arrived at the scene to take them into custody.
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By the time our reporter arrived, the visibly shaken victim had been reunited with her mother and removed from the scene. A family member, speaking anonymously, revealed that the individuals involved were relatives of the girl.
According to the source, they had attempted to abduct Miss Oghosa in a bid to subject her to female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice still rooted in certain family traditions despite national laws prohibiting it.
“We’ve been under constant pressure from family members demanding this harmful practice. We’ve suffered emotionally and financially because of our refusal. I’m relieved the police intervened before they succeeded,” the source said, urging law enforcement to provide adequate protection for the child and her immediate family.
When contacted for comment, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the attempted abduction but noted that he had not yet received a detailed briefing. He assured the public that further information would be provided as the investigations progress. At press time, no official statement had been released by the state police command.