Police rescue missing seven-year-old girl in Ondo
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Ondo State Police Command has recovered a missing seven-year-old girl found wandering alone in Odigbo town and has launched an investigation to reunite her with her family.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal.
According to the statement, the child was brought to the Odigbo Divisional Police Headquarters on February 7, 2026, at about 9 p.m. by a 44-year-old man identified as Adebayo, who found her roaming the Orita area of the town without adult supervision.
Police said preliminary interrogation revealed that the girl identified herself as Azeez Baliki, adding that she claimed to reside in the Idi-Ose area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The child further told police that she is a pupil of Glorious Primary School in Ibadan, though the circumstances surrounding how she ended up in Ondo State remain unclear.
The command said the girl has been placed in protective custody while efforts are ongoing to trace her parents or lawful guardian.
Lawal reassured residents of the command’s commitment to the protection of vulnerable persons, especially children, stressing that no effort would be spared to ensure the child’s safety.
He urged members of the public with useful information that could help identify or locate the parents or guardians of the child to report to the nearest police station.
